Moth Worlds 2015- Sliced bread, sheep stations, awe and reverence

by John Curnow on 15 Nov 2014 The 2015 McDougall and McConaghy Moth World Championship will showcase the most amazing array of sailing talent on the planet. They are Olympic heroes for their countries and/or America’s Cup legends too, all whilst still being in their twenties or thirties!

Their choice of weapon for this mucho-kudos-pulling title is the 26kg Foiling Moth, which is sailing’s developMENTAL class.

To be based out of the stunning Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club (SSCBC) in Victoria, Australia, and held from January 9 to 16, this is to be a showdown akin to that of the best of the great Western movies. Indeed these guns will be blazing incredible trails in their Moths as they hit 60km/h, and quite often the water as well.

Drawing on an old cliché, this really is the biggest thing since sliced bread, especially in sailing terms. As sponsor, what does Jono Morris, Joint CEO of McConaghy have to say about it all?

'McConaghy Boats has an enduring association with the Moth class. Our founder, John McConaghy, started the business in 1967 building Moths in his parent’s garage, and then continued to build the best Moths on the water for decades. As foiling started to become the norm for the Moth fleet, we started to work with Andrew McDougall (Amac) on the Bladerider project in 2006, when we set up our facility in China.'

'We built about 300 Bladeriders with Amac between 2006 and 2008. In 2008 we launched the Mach2, which took everything we had learned collectively from the Bladerider and improved it in every respect. Today we have built over 500 Mach2’s and when combined with the 300 Bladeriders, that’s 800 hydrofoiling Moths and counting!'

'The Mach2 represents everything that McConaghy stands for and we are very proud to be the builder of a craft that all of the world’s best sailors choose to sail. Sponsoring the Sorrento World Championship with Amac reinforces our commitment to the class and the Mach2 project. We are looking forward to seeing the world’s best get together to fight it out at the bottom of Port Philip, and hopefully to see the Mach2 victorious for its seventh consecutive Moth World Championship', said Morris.

As just highlighted, this regatta literally is to be a cavalcade of Gigastars. The sailors not only come from the Moths, but also many an Off-The-Beach dinghy and catamaran class, and of course, the electrifying America’s Cup AC72s. Reigning Moth champion and winner from 2011 as well, Nathan Outteridge leads a 143-boat fleet that represent 14 countries from every inhabited continent.

Multihull guru, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) legend and hailing from another village on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, is Australia’s own, Glenn Ashby. In a career that is simply without peer, he has already amassed an incredible 15 World Championships and a Silver medal in the Tornado catamaran at the Olympic Games in Beijing. 'This one will be a lot of fun and just a fantastic time. Look at the fleet – there has not been a regatta ever before with the calibre of sailors that are coming to Sorrento. It is an unprecedented scenario, even compared with the America’s Cup (AC), to have so many top level athletes from a lot of classes all descending on the same location.'

'It is a big thing with the Moths. Coming from a large team, where you are small cog within a big wheel, in the Moth it all comes down to you. It is a nice change to just come back in to the beach at the end and a real step aside from the big AC show. The Moth is all about foiling and speed, as well as being very, very technical. You get exposure to how the designers think and understand the intricacies about how and why things work the way they do. Sailing a Moth is the most amazing mix of the practical and technical aspects of sailing.'

'The Moth certainly is a new challenge for me, and also a lot of other sailors. It is a relatively level playing field and you start from scratch, so it evens everyone out a bit, especially those who have not spent that much time in one. Learning something new has been terrific and the environment is really different; simple and a noticeable departure from life in a big team.'

'We (ETNZ) did have a terrific training camp with Andrew McDougall. Pete Burling showed the way, but we all learned a lot, no matter what skill level we were at. The set-up is critical. Getting to know how and why components worked in different conditions is key. Being fast, as well as stable, is the main focus. To get to that you have to train efficiently, so it comes down to time management with family and team commitments to consider in the whole equation. It also helps with the body, from which I am definitely hoping to get a few more big years out of!'

Ashby added, 'In terms of ETNZ, we’re all hoping to be a part of the 2015 McDougall+McConaghy Moth World Championships. So along with me, that’ll be Dean Barker, Ray Davies and then A-Class Catamaran and 49er stars Blair Tuke and Pete Burling. Jeremy Lomas is new to the Moth, and I know how that feels, but he’s working closely with the AC designers and hence it fits well with the design and nuance aspects of the craft. In a lot of ways, sailing the Moths together is a bit like a group bonding or team building exercise.'

'There are a lot of heroes on the way, so the boat park will be a really cool walk, given the who’s who that will be around. Sorrento is very different to a lot of sailing locations and part of it’s appeal will be that laid back atmosphere, which has helped put a big tick in the box, as our families will be there too.'

'It’ll be exciting sailing due to the variety of conditions. Any World Championship conducted in a range of breezes and sea states really does prove who is best overall, and this will be great for the Moths. Everyone will have his or her good and bad days, so it will be awesome to see who does step up in the end. I do hope to finish somewhere up there, but more importantly want to get around the track well! I expect Nathan Outteridge and Pete Burling will continue their tussles from the 49ers and then Scott Babbage and Josh McKnight should feature. Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen, Tom Slingsby and Dean Barker will be worth watching, as well.'

'No matter what, there’ll be heaps of enjoyment and smiles at the end of the day. There aren’t sheep stations on offer (an Australian reference to a large parcel of pastoral land measured in square kilometres), it’s a lot more casual actually, but it would not matter if it is all these sailors were out in AC72s or Optimists, it will be hot and fierce out on the water, but cool and relaxed on shore. I know most are looking at it as fun and a great way to get together every day, which does not happen at the AC or Olympics, where you’re carted away to camp straight off the water.'

'The Moths also represent what we need in yachting to make it more appealing once again. Namely, that is to embrace the technology side of the equation. Personally I am just super-excited and find it a real privilege to host these sailors in my home waters and am thoroughly looking forward to it. I enjoy the sailing, their company and think I have had this event on my mind more than any other in the last 12 months,' Ashby finished by saying.

In a way, Tim Phillips is almost at the dichotomous end of the spectrum to Ashby. He is the man most responsible for the resurgence of the area’s iconic, gaff-rigged Couta Boats. Phillips’ Wooden Boat Shop builds, restores and maintains all manner of hand-crafted timber vessels, which are a far cry from the lightweight composite flyers that both of his sons sail. Just like 49er stars, Nathan Outteridge and Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen, both of whom are sailing Moths at this championship, fellow Australian Sailing Team member, Will Phillips is part of a strong local contingent.

Phillips said, 'Awesome fleet and I’m happy to be representing the locals. My brother Sam is competing too and he’s had a lot more preparation in the boat than some of the others, so he should be up there. I’m really looking forward to it. I have not done a real event as yet, so the Victorian Moth GP should be a good hit out and any time you get out on the same racetrack that will be used for the Worlds has to be beneficial. Time is the most important asset when it comes to sailing a Moth!'

'Talking of time, SSCBC’s Harry Mighell’s university commitments are winning that battle at the moment, but he is really keen. He’s a great all-round sailor and in terms of mass a good middleweight, so given the likelihood of a vast range of conditions he could well suit this regatta. And one thing is for certain with the Worlds; we will get a genuine smorgasbord of conditions…'

In welcoming everyone, SSCBC Commodore Andrew Plympton said, 'Our club enjoys hosting major sailing events. It is great to see some of the 49er sailors from the 2008 Worlds returning to SSCBC for the Moths. The Moth Worlds are the centrepiece of our busy January holiday period.'

'We have been working closely with the Moth Association for the last 12 months, so to deliver the best regatta overall. Our club’s history with the Moths goes back a long way, and we have produced many fine sailors who have had success in this class. The members are all looking forward to this event. Whether watching from land or at sea, the 140 plus Moths foiling will be a highlight.'

'The sailors and their families will no doubt our facilities, especially anyone form the Northern hemisphere. The staff, officials and volunteers all welcome you heartily to our sunny Sorrento. Ten days of sea breeze, great weather and flat seas have been ordered,' said Plympton.

To go foiling with the Gigastars book in now here. Sailing’s developMENTAL class will be in action from January 6 with the Australian Championship and then from January 9 to 16, the McDougall + McConaghy 2015 Moth World Championships will be conducted. As a spectator, you may want to get a few slices of bread, put some filling in between them and watch these amazing craft from the hill or beach at Sorrento, for it will be big. To be a part of the Social Media programme, join the conversation via #mothworlds or go and like on Facebook.