Windsurfer LT: World Championships with over 200 starters - a participant reports

Perth 2023, Christmas is just over and maybe it will snow in Germany, no, I don't want to think about that at 30 degrees. The World Championship in the International Windsurfer LT Class (IWCA) has been announced. With me and two other Germans, 240 riders from all over the world have registered for this event and I'm one of them. It starts tomorrow. That brings tears to my eyes, because it's a dream come true.

With a big grin on my face, I head to the South of Perth Yacht Club to sign in. I can't put into words how I feel right now! The check-in goes flawlessly, after the weigh-in I have a fighting weight of 81.1 kg and I will start in weight group B, with almost 50 other competitors. There are four men's groups plus a separate women's group. They include some very well-known names, former world cuppers, world champions and Olympic medallists such as Scott McKercher, Lars Kleppich and Bruce Kendall.

At 32 knots, it was a matter of survival

On to the windsurfer's board issue, brand new longboards are available for a hire fee for the participants who have flown in. This also runs smoothly. Rigging up and off we go with a training session in a nice 20 knot wind on Melville Water. The opening ceremony in the evening, followed by a BBQ, is a welcome opportunity to socialise with other participants from all over the world as well as with the Australian hosts.

The races start with two course races in a cosy four Beaufort, the first one is not quite successful with 28th place, but I almost make it into the top ten with 13th place. The second day's racing pushed me to the limit, four course races in 20 knots of wind produced results of 20, 18, 11 and 16. The marathon race the next day was really tough. All participants on one starting line and on one course, with winds of up to 32 knots, it was a matter of survival. I can be satisfied with 15th place in my weight class.

In addition to the course race and marathon, the third discipline is the slalom in the knockout system the next day. Six to seven racers in the heats, and I easily make it through to the semi-finals of the best 16 starters via the quarter-finals. The competition there is fierce. With 5th place in my heat, I narrowly miss out on the final heat of the best eight, but in the final ranking I come 9th, as does Scotty O'Connor, a former Worldcupper who now lives in Fiji.

Freestyle and super slalom at the end

With three more course races (15, 8, 22) the sporting programme of the World Championships almost comes to an end, whereby I manage my highlight with 8th place in the penultimate run, which is enough for 16th place in the end. The freestyle and a super slalom of the best four racers then bring the World Championships to an end.

Fantastic weather, the warm wind, the great atmosphere and perfect regatta management and organisation accompanied us on every day of the event.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who kept their fingers crossed for me, a big thank you to you all. It was a marvellous time for me in Perth. Finally, I would also like to thank the South of Perth Yacht Club, who organised a wonderful world championship with 50% sport and 50% fun and respectful interaction.

Text: Herbert Weynand

• All results are available at sopyc.com.au/windsurfer-worlds-2023/

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