Day 2 competition in the 2018 Etchells World Championships in Brisbane, Australia, in October. The 2019 competition will be held in Corpus Christi on June 19-29 and hosted by the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. Courtesy photo
The Etchells World Championships are coming to Corpus Christi Bay on June 19-29. Hosted by the Corpus Christi Yacht Club, Etchells has staged its annual international sailing competition in Australia, Italy, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, among other countries. This the first time Corpus Christi will host the event.
Etchells are racing sloops that can compete with three or four sailors. Originally designed and built by E.W. "Skip" Etchells, the prototype Shililah was created to compete in the International Yacht Racing Union 3-man keel boat trials of 1966. The racer became known as the Etchell in 1990. Over the years, the boat has grown in popularity and is now one of the most successful one-design classes in the world.
Fans call it the “ultimate tinkerer’s keelboat.” The boat remains true to its original design, but sailors of differing skills have varying experiences and are forever changing how it rides the water, according to an article in Sailing World.
Sail shapes can be altered to change how the helm tugs. Each of its two jibs come with a variety of batten choices. Just about every item on the boat is adjustable. Sailors call Etchells “cerebral boats” because of the constant adjusting needed as conditions change.
Ninety-four boats competed in the 2018 worlds in Brisbane, Australia, last October. The Lisa Rose, with crew members Martin Mill, Julian Plante, Sean O’Rourke, and Mat Belcher, took the win in Race Eight.
The Corpus Christi-based competition will feature 35 teams from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Bermuda. Of those, 18 are U.S.-based.
The schedule of events includes:
Thursday, June 20
Hull/Spar Measurement/Registration/PreWorlds regatta for those who want to participate
Friday, June 21
Hull/Spar Measurement/Registration/PreWorlds regatta for those who want to participate
Saturday, June 22
Hull/Spar/Sail Measurement and Registration
Sunday, June 23
Hull/Spar/Sail Measurement and Registration
Monday, June 24
Weigh-In/Hull/Spar/Sail Measurement and Registration/Practice Race/Class AGM/ Competitors Meeting/ Opening Ceremony
Tuesday, June 25
Championship Racing
Wednesday, June 26
Championship Racing
Thursday, June 27
Championship Racing/Competitor Re-Weigh
Friday, June 28
Competitor Re-Weigh/Championship Racing
Saturday, June 29
Championship Racing/Prize Giving/Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony and awards will be held at the Corpus Christi Omni Hotel.
The Corpus Christi Marina boat ramp on the Coopers Alley L-Head will be closed during the 10-day event. Boaters may access the Nueces Bay boat ramp located on North Beach at 5151 West Causeway Boulevard. For more information, contact Marina Superintendent Gina Sanchez at (361) 826-3980 or ginas@cctexas.com.
