• Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel wins Open Six Metre World Championship 2023 with a race to spare.
• A King vanquishes a Maharaja in the Classics, as King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon beats Dix Août, owned by Louis Heckly who is affectionately known to the fleet as the “Maharajah of Djeezupuhr”.
• Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller’s Junior (Open) and Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI (Classic) are Corinthian World Champions.
• Racing concludes a day early with all scheduled races completed.
• Royal Yacht Squadron to host the Prize Giving Reception where the sailors will celebrate their champions.

8 September 2023 – Cowes, UK – Three intense and thrilling races completed the 2023 Six Metre World Championship in style a day early. Knowing that the final day of the regatta was likely to be windless, the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Race Officer Peter Saxton made the wise decision to run all three remaining races on the penultimate day. With both Open and Classic Divisions still wide open it was to be a day of intense and spectacular competition. For the fourth day running the wind remaining in the south-east quadrant, predominantly at around five to seven knots with occasional puffs up towards double figures. Constant shift spotting, current evaluation and gear changing were vital throughout the racing.

Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel, a 1986 Ian Howlett design, went into the day leading the Open Division from Violeta Álvarez’ 2017 Juan Kouyoumdjian designed Stella and Dieter Schoen’s 2022 Vroelick designed Momo. Momo took victory in race six, but Scoundrel was right behind her, and Stella crossed third, maintaining the status quo. Race eight went to Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller’s Junior (, but Scoundrel’s team are nothing if not consistent and as they crossed the line in second place, they secured the championship with a race to spare.

As Junior headed for home Stella and Momo went head-to-head again in race eight to decide the Open silver and bronze medals. With the wind just holding at around five to six knots and the tide turning it was snakes and ladders on every leg. Ultimately it was Basil Vasilou’s Jane Anne (1985 Pettersson) that took race victory, with Jan Eckert’s GinkgoToo second and Eugenio Galdon Brugarolas’ Maybe XIV third. Stella and Momo meanwhile were virtually match racing their way around the course and on the line, Stella crossed in sixth to secure second with Momo seventh and taking the final podium place.

After sailing, and a victory dunking courtesy of his team, Jamie Hilton was fulsome in his praise of his crew and his fellow competitors. “It’s hard to process and winning the World Championship is candidly unbelievable. We didn’t want to take any big risks, we wanted to execute as best as we could and I think we had two seconds and I’m speechless, it was just fantastic. We’ve had great competitors that kept us on our toes and really made us work hard.

“My crew Mike Marshall and I have sailed together for probably about ten or fifteen years now in a boat at home, the Shields, he really did a lot of the sail design work and is just a phenomenal talent. He really handled boat and it was his boat in the starts and he did the positioning and the tactics. Then there’s Dave Hughes, a 470 World Champion sailor, just a fantastic guy to sail with. Everyone on the team adds so much confidence to me that my job becomes much, much simpler. And we’ve got Alan Terhune who’s our tactician, and I think if you ask other boats on the racecourse, we were in a pretty good position most of the time. Addison Caprioni also sailed with me in my Shields back in Newport and did the bow. The whole team was just amazing, and I really feel fortunate to have not just such high-quality sailors, but fantastic people and real gentlemen to sail with.”

The competition in the Classic Division was event tighter and the result went down to the wire. Ultimately it was to be a battle royal between the reigning champion Dix Août (1950 Bjarn Aas), owned by Louis Heckly, who is known affectionately in the fleet as the ‘Maharajah of Djeezupuhr’, and His Majesty King Carlos of Spain’s Bribon (1947 Arvid Laurin). On behalf of the Maharajah, helmsman Gery Trentesaux and his crew gave it their all, but the King’s Bribon was on fire, taking first place in races six and seven and securing the championship with a fourth in race eight. This is Trentesaux’s first time in the Six Metre and it was clear that, although disappointed not to win, he was delighted to have enjoyed such terrific competition against such a strong crew.

The fight for the bronze medal in the Classic Division was nerve wracking as two of the boats in contention were disqualified under U flag in race six and the third was disqualified from race seven following a protest. Simon Williams Silvervingen (1939 Tore Holm) was one of the U flaged boats but went on to finish second and third in the other races to give his team the bronze medal by a single point. Mauricio Sanchez-Bella’s Titia (1952 David Boyd) took fourth place and Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI (1946 Tore Holm) came fifth.

His Majesty King Juan Carlos was delighted with Bribon’s result and acknowledged the exceptional achievement of his team of helmsman Ross MacDonald, Alejandro Abescal, Alberto Viejo, Roi Álvarez and Simon Fisher. “It’s a sensational team, a really good team. We’ve worked for it, we’ve fought for it, and here is the result.”.

For Volvo Ocean Race five-time veteran Simon Fisher, who joined the Bribon crew to bring local knowledge of the Solent, this was as welcome return to the Sixes. “It’s been a very, very hard-fought regatta, really tricky conditions. It’s not often that you sail in south-eastly breeze for so many days in a row here on the Solent, and coming off spring tides there was plenty of tide all week. I’ve been very lucky to join this fantastic team for the week and I’m very proud we got the result we wanted. It wasn’t easy, but very satisfying to get the result in the end. It’s been a real pleasure to come and sail back in the Six Meters. I think the last time I sailed a Six was almost thirty years ago, so it’s been an absolute pleasure to jump back in and get involved, learn about the boats and their history. It’s been a really enjoyable experience and I hope I get the opportunity to do some more in the future.”

In the Corinthian Divisions for amateur crews the Open Corinthian title went to Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller’s Junior, a four-time past overall winner of the Open World Championship, built in 1981 to a Pettersson design with subsequent upgrades by Howlett. Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI, designed by in 1946 by Tore Holm, was the Classic Corinthian winner.

Although there will be no sailing on the final day of the competition as all races have been completed, the Prize Giving Reception will still take place as planned at the Royal Yacht Squadron this evening where the sailors will come together for one final time to celebrate their champions.

Additional information about the 2023 International Six Metre World Championship, including a list of entries with details of each boat is available at 6metreworlds.com.

Final Top Five – Open Division
1st Scoundrel, USA123, Jamie Hilton – 1, 3, 7, 3, 2, 2, 2 (19/RTD) = 20
2nd Stella, GBR112, Violeta Alvarez – 5, 2, 1, 4, 6, 3, 6, (6) = 27
3rd Momo, SUI143, Dieter Schoen – (9), 5, 8, 2, 1, 1, 4, 7 = 28
4th Junior, SUI77, Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller – 6, 9, 4, 1, (11), 4, 1, 9 = 34
5th GinkgoToo, SUI140, Jan Eckert – (14), 1, 6, 12, 3, 5, 7, 2 = 34

Final Top Five Classic Division
1st Bribon, ESP16, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain – 3, (12), 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 4 = 18
2nd Dix Août, FRA111, Louis Heckly and Gery Trentesaux – 1, (14), 1, 4, 1, 6, 4, 7 = 24
3rd Silvervingen, GBR31, Simon Williams – 7, 3, 7 , 3, 9, (16/UFD), 2, 3 = 34
4th Titia, ESP72, Mauricio Sanchez-Bella – 11, 1, 5, 7, 3, (16/UFD), 2, 3 = 35
5th May Be VI, FIN51, Patrick Sandman – 9, 7, 2, 6, 5, 5, (16/DSQ), 8 = 43

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STOP PRESS – FULL RELEASE TO FOLLOW

7 September 2023 – Cowes, UK – With zero wind forecast for the scheduled final day of racing at the Six Metre World Championship 2023 in Cowes, the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Race Committee elected to run all three remaining races, races six to eight, on the penultimate day of the competition.

After a long, hot, and incredibly intense light airs three race day, Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel, sailing for the New York Yacht Club and crewed by Mike Marshall, Dave Hughes, Allan Terhune Jr and Addison Caproni, was declared 2023 Open Six Metre World Champion with a race to spare. The battle for second place in the Open Division came down a final race shoot-out between Violeta Alvarez’ Stella of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Dieter Schoen’s 2022 World Champion Momo, sailing for the Sailing Club of St Moritz, with Stella ultimately prevailing by a single point.

“The boat goes so great, and the guys get the boat going so well, that everything just fell into place. I feel very fortunate, very luck. We had great competitors that really kept us on our toes and made us work hard.” – said a clearly delighted Jamie Hilton.

The fight for the Classic Division was even more intense and was only decided on the final race. As the boats crossed the final finish line, it was His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon, being sailed for the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo by Ross McDonald, Alejandro Abescal, Simon Fisher, Aleberto Viejo and Roi Alvarex, that claimed a narrow victory over Louis Heckly’s Dix Août, helmed by Gery Trentesaux under the burgee of the Yacht Club de France. Simon Williams’ Silvervingen of the New York Yacht Club took the final place on the Classics podium.

After sailing His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s pride in his team was clear as he said, “It’s a sensational team, a really good team. We’ve worked for it, we’ve fought for it, and here is the result.”.

The Corinthian Division winners were Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller’s Junior of the Club Nautique de Versoix in the Open Division, and Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI of Finland’s Nyländska Jaktklubben in the Classics.

The Official Prize Giving Ceremony will take place as planned on Friday 8 September at the Royal Yacht Squadron from 19.00.

A full press release with additional photos, video and quotes will follow.

Additional information about the 2023 International Six Metre World Championship, including a list of entries with details of each boat is available at 6metreworlds.com.

Final Results Open Division

1st Scoundrel, USA123, Jamie Hilton – 1, 3, 7, 3, 2, 2, 2, (19/RTD) = 20
2nd Stella, GBR112, Violeta Alvarez – 5, 2, 1, 4, 6, 3, 6, (6) = 27
3rd Momo, SUI143, Dieter Schoen – (9), 5, 8, 2, 1, 1, 4, 7 = 28
4th Junior, SUI77, Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller – 6, 9, 4, 1,11, 4, 1, 9 = 34
5th GinkgoToo, SUI140, Jan Eckert – (14), 1, 6 12, 3, 5, 7, 2 = 36

Final Results Classic Division

1st Bribon, ESP16, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain – 3, (12), 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 4 = 18
2nd Dix Août, FRA111, Louis Heckly and Gery Trentesaux – 1, (14), 1, 4, 1, 6, 4, 7 = 24
3rd Silvervingen, GBR31, Simon Williams – 7, 3, 7 , 3, 9, (16/UFD), 2, 3 = 34
4th Titia, ESP72, Mauricio Sanchez-Bella – 11, 1, 5, 7, 3, (16/UFD), 3, 5 = 35
5th May Be VI, FIN51, Patrick Sandman – 9, 7, 2, 6, 5, 5, (16/DSQ), 8 = 42

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• Violeta Alvarez’ Stella takes a two-point lead in the Open Division at the halfway stage in the International Six Metre World Championship at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.
• Dix Août, Bribon and Silvervingen in a three-way tie at the top of the Classic Division.
• Tanker ship movement causes abandonment of fifth race.
• Still all to play for with four races to sail.

5 September 2023 – Cowes, UK – The Solent was at its sparkling and most tidally challenging best for the second day of the International Six Metre World Championship in Cowes. With five races required to complete a series and light airs forecast for the third day, the Royal Yacht Squadron Race Committee did an excellent job of running races three and four of the series in a south-easterly that ranged from 6 to 15 knots. They also did an excellent job of almost completing race five, but harbour operations had other ideas and the need for a gas tanker to transit through the race area during the second run left the committee with no option but to abandon the race and ask the support and race committee RIBs to escort the boats safely out of the North Channel.

In the Open Division Violeta Alvarez’ Stella was on flying form, winning race three, taking fourth in race four and looking good for at least a second in the abandoned race five. Her consistency jumps her to the top of the Open rankings at the halfway point in the eight-race regatta. Now trailing her by two points is overnight leader Jamie Hilton’s Scoundrel who couldn’t quite match their opening day performance, but none the less took a seventh and a third to put them two points behind Stella. Third place in the open division is a tie between Philippe Duur and Rainer Muller’s Junior and Jeremy Thorp’s Battlecry. Junior took a fourth followed by a first and now sits in third on countback. Defending Champion Dieter Schoen’s Momo made eighth in race three and then achieved her best result of the series so far with a second in race four, putting her four points back in fifth.

After racing Violeta Alvarez paid tribute to her boat and crew for today’s performance saying, “I think the team has been doing a great job. Pablo [Inglesias Garcia] has got us on the right side of the course and the trimming of the boat is very good so I’m proud of the boys. The rest of the week is very open, there are still four races to go so still anyone can win so one has to keep focused and humble about where you are in the fleet. I think there’s great competition. Every single boat here has fantastic sailors. It’s a testament to the class how many good sailors are attracted to the class. So far, we’ve been extremely lucky, we’ve had wonderful sunshine, good wind, big tides, but then that’s what makes Cowes interesting – you always expect big tides here in the Solent.”.

It was all change in the Classic Division where Louis Heckly’s Dix Août, helmed this week by Gery Trentesaux, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon and Simon Williams’ Silvervingen are now tied on points and lying first to third respectively on countback. Dix Août and Bribon won a race apiece and each also claimed a fourth today, leapfrogging them up the ranking, while Silvervingen scored exactly the same as day one with a seventh followed by a third. Fourth place overall is also currently a tie in the Classics between Mauricio Sanchez-Bella’s Titia and Patrick Sandman’s May Be VI. They lie four points behind the leaders with Titia claiming fourth on countback.

Ross McDonald, who today was at the helm of Bribon, talked about the challenges the of Solent tides. “The event so far has been quite tricky. We’ve had nice wind, but the current here is very tricky so for us trying to figure out which side to be on, like everyone else, is quite difficult. Today we had two good starts which made it a little easier and having some local knowledge on board [Simon Fisher] also helps on which direction to go, so we’re looking forward to the next few days. The forecast right now is a little bit complicated, not much wind for Wednesday or Friday, but it looks like there should be enough wind Thursday to complete the championship no problem. So, it’s up to the Race Committee and we’ll do whatever they tell us we need to do.

The loss of today’s fifth race was a blow for all concerned, particularly as there are light winds forecast for the remainder of the week and five races are required to constitute a championship. Additionally, many of the teams are carrying at least one high point result and so the introduction of a discard once six races have been completed will be much anticipated. The forecast for Wednesday is particularly light, but Thursday looks more promising, and Race Officer Peter Saxton and his committee will be doing all they can to complete the maximum number of races.

The start of racing on day three is scheduled for 11:30 and the Race Committee will update the competitors using its direct messaging system first thing in the morning to confirm their plans. Four races remain to be sailed in the eight race series which concludes on Friday 8 September.

Additional information about the 2023 International Six Metre World Championship, including a list of entries with details of each boat is available at 6metreworlds.com.

Provisional Top Five Open Division
1st Stella, GBR112, Violeta Alvarez – 5, 2, 1, 4 = 12
2nd Scoundrel, USA123, Jamie Hilton – 1, 3, 7, 3 = 14
3rd Junior, SUI77, Philippe Durr and Rainer Muller – 6, 9, 4, 1 = 20
4th Battlecry, GBR89, Jeremy Thorp – 8, 4, 3, 5 = 20
5th Momo, SUI143, Dieter Schoen – 9, 5, 8, 2 = 20

Provisional Top Five Classic Division
1st Dix Août, FRA111, Louis Heckly and Gery Trentesaux – 1, 14, 1, 4 = 20
2nd Bribon, ESP16, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain – 3, 12, 4, 1 = 20
3rd Silvervingen, GBR31, Simon Williams – 7, 3, 7 , 3 = 20
4th Titia, ESP72, Mauricio Sanchez-Bella – 11, 1, 5, 7 = 24
5th May Be VI, FIN51, Patrick Sandman – 9, 7, 2, 6 = 24

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