The entry list for the 2024 Etchells World Championship (January 10-14; Melbourne, AUS) has attracted a new team looking to parlay their 2024 Star World title – John Kostecki and Austin Sperry (USA). However, this time the boat owner is going to steer the boat.
Sperry got a taste of the class during the 2023-24 Biscayne Bay Series (Miami, FL) and now is all in for the new challenge.
“With three people aboard, it is a new dynamic I am not used to,” said Sperry. “Plus, this spinnaker thing is an entirely new challenge for me personally. I am very fortunate to sail with John Kostecki in the middle and Noel “Nitro” Drennan up front.”
Nitro is no stranger to the Etchells class, with the 2022 World Championship to his name, and a successful one-design and ocean racing career alongside a solid career as a sailmaker, now specializing in One-Design for North Sails.
“The experience these two have over the course of their respective careers is obviously very impressive,” Sperry stated. “We sailed most of the events in Miami this past winter together, there were a few (schedule) conflicts at times and Max Salminen was a key member of our team. Overall, I was very happy with our first season in the Etchells together.”
And while Sperry would like to do well in the Worlds, he recognizes that he can only control their preparation.
“On our team we never worry about the outcome, we very much focus on the process – daily. We are there to do well of course, but if we can get better every single time we step aboard the boat, we will have a great regatta.
“There are so many variables in the sport of sailing that are outside of our control, it makes no sense to me to begin thinking about the what-if’s. There are many great competitors in this class, all very accomplished sailors in their own right. I can’t spend time focusing on what they may or may not do. We have to trust the process, lock in and give it our full 100% focus. The outcome will take care of itself.”
On traveling to Melbourne and the logistics, Sperry said that he made it as easy as he possibly could for the team by purchasing a local boat.
“I bought Chris Manton’s boat, 1514 which is already in Australia so I am excited to see how the new boat performs. We’ve got a few training camps that we are preparing to do there leading up to the Worlds.”
“The class is super competitive, and I am really enjoying learning a new one-design class. I love being part of a team, with a common goal. It’s been a lot of fun thus far and I am excited to give it a go in Melbourne.”
Event information – Entry list – Facebook
Source: Nicole Douglass, SSN – https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/10/28/swinging-for-the-fences-again/
