Honoring the Past, Leading the Future

President's Message

Dear Star sailors,

What happened in this exciting sailing season 2021:
The highlight of this year was certainly the World Championship in Kiel - the sailing city in Germany. Finally, after intensive preparations by the organizers, a record number of 85 top teams were at the start to determine the title of world champion.
After six exciting races we can congratulate our new world champions: Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen, who sailed so confidently that they did not have to sail the last race! Vize-world champion was to Tonci Stipanovic silver medalist in Laser 2021 with Tudor Bilic (Croatia) , the third place on the podium  Hans Spitzauer/Christian Nehammer (Austria).

This world championship was also special for another reason:
What a fantastic atmosphere in the context of Kiel Week with the many boat classes and international ambience. We could demonstrate with our 85 Stars moored directly at the front  that we are a strong and active class: a superb promotion for the Starclass in the international sailing world! Thanks to all the organizers, especially our District Secretary Helge Spehr and his family, who made this championship special.

What else is happening in the Star boat world?  A great North American Championship was held in Newport Harbor/ California in August. The silver star was won by Erik Lidecis / Greg Smith. Second was Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise followed by Augie Diaz / Bruno Prada – all former Star world chaampions!

In October the Union Yacht Club Attersee/Austria  run the U 30 European Championship with 17 starting teams. U30 European Champions  are Keanu Prettner/Florian Raudaschl. Congratulations!

From my side I would like to point out that this year we are voting for important office positions in the ISCYRA. We have to vote for a new International President and I can confirm that we have two excellent candidates for this new position: Enrico Chieffi (Italy) and Tom Londrigan (USA). There are also other important officers to elect, some of our proven are up for re-election and have agreed to run again.

So please all members should  participate in the election!
Although we were still heavily under the influence of COVID this year, we finally managed to have  a successful regatta season that is slowly coming to an end here in the Northern hemisphere. In South America, sailors are already looking forward to the South Americans (YACHT CLUB DE ILHABELA/Brazil)  and Southern Hemisphere Championship (Club Nautico Olivos/Argentina).Don’t miss to sail this great championships!

Preparations for the winter series 2021/22 in Miami and South Europe are in full swing.

 
Stay tuned,

Yours sincerely,

Hubert Merkelbach  

The Horses Need to Run.......
An Open Letter to all Districts and Fleets from the Chair of the IGC, Tom Londrigan

Our Class is always looking for ways to grow our Class with the young sailors of the world. We have U-30 events; helping young Star sailors is key to the mission of our Legacy Foundation, and the Worlds at Kiel successfully demonstrated that individual and local support of young sailors increases their participation.

Next year we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our World Championships at Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts. I have had countless conversations with Class members and the consensus is that we can reach 100 boats both at this historic event AND at the next World Championship in Scarlino, Italy.

To reach 100 boats, we need to encourage participation at all levels of our Class and actively support our new young sailors. In Kiel, I witnessed several of these teams show up and finish very well. After the last race, one of the young German skippers asked me about how he can race the next World Championships. This is the type of engagement we are hoping for.  How did these young sailors get there? Many were allowed to use competitive boats and equipment from generous members of our class. In addition, they participated in training sessions to boost their skills and confidence. I want to challenge all of our Districts and fleets to do the same.

First, identify a couple boats that are well equipped and competitive and are not heading to the World Champs and ask the owners to participate (“the horses need to run”). I can think of five great options in my District alone. Second, identify a team that is excited to race the Star at a World Championship in Marblehead or Scarlino. Third, schedule training sessions for the team. Fourth, help the team raise a little money.

I have discussed the issue with the Legacy Foundation, and they are willing to participate and accept applications for “matching support” of money raised by a young team sponsored by a Fleet or a District to attend the World Championship in Marblehead. This could be used for sails, travel expenses etc… To start the process, please designate a District Secretary or Fleet Captain who is willing to spearhead the task in each area, let ISCYRA and the Legacy Foundation know and they can assist with the application.

The details and parameters of this process will be worked out in the coming months. But, recruitment of boats and teams can start now. I have already started, my fleet has already started, and our District has already started. I challenge all of us to step up and engage. Let the horses run, grow our Class, and please come and celebrate our 100 Anniversary of the Star World Championships with the next generation of racers.

2022 Major Regatta Calendar

Diego Negri (ITA) and Frithjof Kleen (GER) have sailed a flawless series in Kiel and topped everyone else in the 83-boat fleet to win the 2021 Star World Championship with a day to spare.

“It is unbelievable, a dream come true", commented a very emotional Diego Negri, who has been a three-time runner-up at the Star Worlds. "on the last day was tough with rain and clouds around. Towards the end the wind dropped a lot so I was really, really afraid that it would be cancelled and it would have been too much to take in, but luckily we made it to the finish line”.
“It’s been a long way to come to that finish line. All my sailing history is coming together here, today. I think it was a tough championship, with some waiting in the beginning, and then two long races per day, trying to keep the focus at all times. But it’s great, and it came in a good moment in my sailing career. I think Frithjof and I really did something special. We’ve prepared hard for this, with Werner Fritz helping us, coming out so many times with us on Lake Garda, always trusting us, and then thanks to Folli who gave me this amazing beautiful girl, I love her!! I named her ‘21’ because she arrived after the pandemic in 2021, and she is a winner like in blackjack, where 21 is the winning number. So she will now be my baby forever. Special thanks go to my family, of course, especially my wife, without her, there would be no chance I could have done any of this. Thanks to everyone!”
 
“This is not my first Star World Championship, but it feels more special than the other one”, said a very touched Frithjof Kleen. “The biggest dream for me was to bring Diego here, to win this. This is what makes it so special. Only one downside, I won’t be able to make fun of him anymore, I used to tell Diego to look up on the mainsail, that he had ‘only’ a silver star, while I had a gold one, so he should be listening to me. Now we have two golds, and I'm happy for that.”
 
On the very last day the battle for the other steps of the podium was still open. 18 boats were spotted over the starting line early in the second general recall of the last race with a black flag hoisted, and for this they were disqualified. A heavy burden for a few, already discarding a high result in their scorecard. They all presented a request for redress, but the jury rejected all but one. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada were granted redress by the International Jury but due to their first UFD, it didn’t help much in their hunt for a place in the spotlight.
 
On the water, the fight for the medals was decided between the Austrians Johann Spitzauer and Hans-Christian Nehammer (AUT) and Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic with Tudor Bilic (CRO). The 2017 Star World Champion Eivind Melleby (NOR) with Guy Thomas Avellon (USA) and Denmark's Jörgen Schönherr, who had three-time European Champion Markus Koy (GER) onbord, were also still in the game. the Croatians to win silver ahead of the Austrians. Behind them in the overall standings were Jörgen Schönherr/Markus Koy, Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada and Eivind Melleby/Guy Thomas Avellon.
 
To top the day, after his win in the last race, Jörgen Schönherr received the prize for the top Master Star skipper, while the top placing junior team, presented with the new Ding Schoonmaker Trophy, are 25-year-old Jan Borbet and his one-year older crewmate Jesper Spehr in twelfth place overall. "This is our first real Star boat season and we didn't expect the award. It was all about getting the best out of it for us. It's a pity that the real junior world championship had to be cancelled," said Jan Borbet. "We definitely want to stay in the Star class. After finishing our studies, we both started our careers and now have a bit more time."