News of the Star Class

President's Message

Summer has come to an end in the northern hemisphere, but a new season is beginning in South America. I am looking forward to racing in the South American Championship in Rio in December and connecting with all the Star sailors down south.

The World Championship in Split was excellent on many fronts. First, 102 Stars on the starting line is an impressive sight. The beauty of the boats and the precision of the competitors is spectacular. There is no other Class that competes at the level of the Star Class with such depth. The hospitality of the Croatians was second to none. Everyone was very friendly at the Mornar Yacht Club as well as in the town. The beauty of the venue, the islands framing the racecourse, the sea, and the wind all combined for an exceptional experience on the water. The Opening Ceremony, organized by Tonko Barac at the Mestrovic Museum, was “Gold Star Standard”, including a red carpet and red roses for all the ladies. Tonko is a real gentleman and a great friend of the Class! Congratulations to all who competed and left their best on the racecourse. Thank you, Split!

At the annual general meeting, Treasurer Guus Poelen informed us that 2024 came out in the black financially while we increased our programming by 30%. We do use earnings from our invested funds to fill out the budget to keep dues increases as low as possible. Giovanni Coppo is leading a project to improve the marketing of our Class to various constituents through our social media profile. The goal of this effort is to engage with the members we have and to reach out to potential members, young and old. The Legacy Foundation is supporting this effort financially. Ante Razmilovic is leading a review of our investment policies for both the Class with Fabio Prada overseeing for the Legacy Foundation.

After considerable testing in various events, the Star Class used RaceSense for the World Championship in Split. With 102 boats competing and a starting line 1km long, Race Sense was a huge help in the execution of the races. RaceSense, improved both the efficiency and fairness of our Championship. The class has purchased two sets of Race Sense management systems and they are available, free of charge, for regatta hosts in Europe as well as the USA.

As we approach the end of the year, our 2026 calendar is locked down and your CMC will begin the budgeting process for the new year. We will hold a town hall, by Zoom, November 29 at 0900 PST/1800 CET. Watch the website for the link.

See you then.

Paul Cayard
ad Interim President, ISCYRA

The 2025 Star World Championship came to a thrilling close in Split, Croatia, with American sailing legend Paul Cayard and Germany’s Frithjof Kleen crowned World Champions after an intense week of racing and a dramatic final race showdown. For Cayard, it's a historic return to the top, 37 years after his first Star Worlds title. For Kleen, this marks a third world championship win in the class, a remarkable achievement for one of the fleet’s most consistent talents.

Held from September 7 to 13 and hosted by JK Mornar and sponsored by Croatel, the regatta welcomed 101 teams from 20 nations, offering five testing races sailed mostly in light northwesterly sea breezes, typical of Split’s conditions. The thermal breeze delivered daily strategic, technical sailing with shifts and pressure lines that kept both tacticians and crews fully engaged.

Cayard and Kleen were steady all week, but their campaign ignited with two race wins on Thursday, vaulting them to the top of the standings just as the discard came into play after the fifth race. The championship remained open heading into Saturday’s finale, with four boats still in contention: Cayard/Kleen, Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise (USA), Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Bruno Prada (POL/BRA), and Diego Negri / Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA).

In the final race, Negri and Lambertenghi delivered a masterclass, leading from start to finish. Doyle/Infelise and Kusznierewicz/Prada were also in the mix early. Cayard and Kleen rounded the top mark in 14^th, putting their title hopes in jeopardy. From there, they delivered a cool-headed charge, picking off key boats downwind and up the second beat, limiting the damage and clinching the championship by just three points.

“It’s very emotional,” said Cayard. “To win again after nearly four decades, with Frithjof, who’s been an incredible teammate, makes this incredibly special. The Star is timeless, and this win means everything.”

Kleen added: “We’ve worked so hard for this. We’ve been close before, and I’ve had the luck to win twice before, but this one is really special. I’m so proud of what we’ve built together as a team.”

Youth was also on display in Split, with the young German pairing of Nick Heuwinkel and Jesper Spehr finishing fifth overall and securing the U30 title. Olympic medalists and Star legends such as Tonci Stipanovic, Enrico Chieffi, Hans Spitzauer, and John Kostecki added depth to a truly world-class fleet.

The 2025 Star Worlds featured everything that makes this class iconic: tactical brilliance, tight racing, and camaraderie on and off the water. With the stunning backdrop of Split, lively socials, and a memorable Opening Ceremony, the event was a celebration of both the past and future of the Star.

Next year, the world’s best will head to Miami, Florida, for the 2026 Star World Championship, where a new chapter in this storied class will be written.

2026 Major Regatta Calendar

watch the Star Class website for updates.

2026	World Championship	Gold	Nov 12-21	Miami, FL, USA
2026	Western Hemisphere	Silver	May 20-24	Gull Lake, MI, USA
2026	Eastern Hemisphere	Silver
2026	European Championship	Silver	Aug 24-29	Medemblik, NED
2026	North American	Silver	Oct 24-29	Davis Island, Tampa, FL
2026	South American	Silver		Buenos Aires, ARG

Honoring the Past, Leading the Future

President's Message

2026 Major Regatta Calendar