By John Burnham and Michael McNamara

Over six September days of gear-busting winds and shifty drifters—with a good old-fashioned thundersquall thrown into the mix—the 2022 International One-Design (IOD) World Championship challenged both the racing fleet and the organizers at Fishers Island Yacht Club (N.Y.).

Due to the tough conditions, which also broke a fair bit of boat equipment, the set-up of the regatta as a tournament-style event with 16 teams rotating through 12 of the 33’5” classic keelboats ended with only 8 of the scheduled 16 races on the scoreboard. But the most successful IOD team of the last decade still managed to rise to the top of the leaderboard, winning three races and earning their fourth world title—Team Farrar of Fishers Island, led by Jonathan and Isabelle Farrar and Mike McNamara with Lincoln White and Kevin Gilman.

Team Farrar led the regatta wire to wire, notching a 1st, 4th, and 2nd on the first day, then threw out a 9^th and finished 1st and 1st. Remarkably, the 4th occurred after being called over early; the team fought adverse tide to restart but was able to grind back through the fleet and, guided by tactician Isabelle Farrar, finished well despite the odds.

The weather systems that came through were unusual and unsettled compared to summer sailing at Fishers Island. The restless and relentless tidal currents still cut across the racecourse and around the islands and headlands that distinguish Fishers Island Sound, challenging the deep entry list for the IOD Class championship.

Qualifying teams arriving from fleets throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Sweden, and Norway, included the defending champion, Tom Fremont-Smith of Northeast Harbor (USA). Among the challengers were five past world champions plus several teams on the rise, particularly the Canadian team helmed by Peter Wickwire, from Chester, Nova Scotia, with Matthew Christie, Devan Dube, Dan MacMillan, Holly MacMillan, and Emily Merry.  Finishing second, Wickwire’s performance was impressive, albeit unsurprising – he’s won a North Americans and multiple Bermuda Race Week events. Notably, his Chester team had a particular knack for leading races that were abandoned due to major windshifts or the time limit’s expiration (for the first beat).

Also making an impact was the Northeast Harbor team skippered by Sofie Dowling, age 20—with a crew of friends in their early 20s fresh from winning the North American Invitational— Sean Beaulieu, Alec Fisichella, Lucas Ingebritson, and Connor Ratcliff. The team finished fourth, improving steadily throughout the regatta, and was awarded the Priscella Kehm trophy for “outstanding crew.”

Two other Fishers Island teams led by past champions, John Burnham and Charlie Van Voorhis, won individual races and finished third and sixth, respectively. In fifth was Hans Johansson of Sweden making a strong challenge, as well, recording a steady run of top five finishes.

Special thanks to regatta chair Bill Reed and his organizing committee including Wes Maxwell and Geordie Loveday who made repairs as needed to the fleet throughout the week. Principal Race Officer Sue Reilly managed the races with a team of volunteers, and Jury chair Bruce Cook led the team of international jurists who settled on-water disputes after racing each day. Fishers Island Yacht Club members opened their homes to visiting sailors and hosted parties, while Jennifer Parsons lined up island caterers and other establishments to keep the fleet fed— including the American Legion which opened its doors to take in the squall-drenched fleet one evening. Finally, a big thanks to the boat owners who loaned their boats for the week, in particular the three owners from Marblehead, Mass., whose boats were trailed down to fill out the fleet.

At the Awards Ceremony, the intense competition during the regatta was a recurring theme, as was the recognition that it took the efforts of many to run a successful regatta—especially in the face of daunting windspeeds and uncooperative weather systems. It was great racing and the fleet wanted more. The IOD class competitors were invigorated by the number of younger sailors at the helm in this regatta and in their home fleets. With the wind roaring outside, the final awards were given. And everyone began looking forward to next year when the Worlds move to Chester, Nova Scotia, just south of Halifax, where championship racing will resume on beautiful Mahone Bay.

2022 IOD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

AWARD WINNERS

Bjarne Aas Perpetual Trophy (1^st Place): Skipper Jonathan Farrar, Isabelle Farrar, Kevin Gillman, Mike McNamara, and Lincoln White (FISHERS ISLAND 2)

Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy (2nd Place): Skipper Peter Wickwire, Matthew Christie, Devan Dube, Dan MacMillan, Holly MacMillan, and Emily Merry (CHESTER)

Edinburgh Bowl (3^rd Place): Skipper John Burnham, Rob Hunte, Jennifer Parsons, Oliver Parsons, and Beth Scholle (FISHERS ISLAND 3)

Priscilla Kehm Prize (Outstanding Crew): Skipper Sofie Dowling, Sean Beaulieu, Alec Fisichella, Lucas Ingebritson, and Connor Ratcliff (NORTHEAST HARBOR)

FINAL STANDINGS