The gloves are off . . . the podium for the 2023 International Moth UK Open Championship did not include any British competitors.
Jacob Pye of New Zealand took the UK Open title with 12 pts, second was Tom Burton of Australia on 13 pts, and third Spain’s Joan Cardonawith 22 pts.
Britain’s Eddie Bridle came close, finishing fifth with 28 pts with Kyle Stoneham (9th) Mike Lennon (17th} the only other BritS to finish in the top three in any of the races.
David Hivey WAS 7th, Dan Ward18TH and that was it for the Brits in the top 20 places.
Dylan Fletcher GBR who is defending his 2022 World Champion title here at WPNSA next week finished 23rd.
Pye also took the Junior title and Lisa Schweigert of Germany (42 overall) was first women.
Best placed British woman was Josie Gliddon in 62nd place.
In the battle of the hulls, Jacob Pye was sailing a Bieker, Burton a Swift and Cardona an Exploder.
There was a considerable spread of hull types in the top group, with the Bieker/Mackay just edging it with 4 hulls, the Exploder 3, Maguire/Aerocet 2 and Swift 1.
The Wetsuit Outlet and Zhik International Moth World Championship, starts Monday 12 to Sunday 18 June.
International Moth UK Open Championship – Final Leaders after 5 races. (Race 6 abandoned)
1st NZL 4841 Jacob Pye Manly SC Bieker – – 3 1 1 5 2 – – 12 pts
2nd AUS 4897 Tom Burton BSC Swift – – 1 5 5 1 1 – – 13 pts
3rd ESP 4947 Joan Cardona RCN Palma Exploder – – 8 2 1 2 9 – – 22 pts
4th FRA 4961 Jean-Baptiste Bernaz CNSM Beiker – – 5 2 2 11 6 – – 26 pts
5th GBR 4944 Eddie Bridle Brightlingsea SC Exploder – – 6 5 6 4 7 – – 28 pts
6th NZL 4845 Henry Haslett Wakatere BC Mackay – – 6 8 6 7 4 – – 31 pts
7th GBR 4968 David Hivey WPNSA Maguire – – 7 7 8 8 8 – – 38 pts
8th AUS 4900 Jack Ferguson Royal Sydney YS Cawthorne – – 7 11 7 6 8 – – 39 pts
9th GBR 5010 Kyle Stoneham PMS Exploder – – 5 3 5 8 20 – – 41 pts
10th ITA 3 Simone Salvà FV Malcesine Maguire – – 11 6 15 9 6 – – 47 pts