Sunfish Worlds 1973 report

Pierre Siegenthaler, a Swiss-born banker who lives in the Bahamas, won the fourth Sunfish World Championship, held April 25-29 in the bay of Fort-de-France, Martinique. Siegenthaler was nominated for the 1972 Sportsman of the Year Award and collected two seconds , a fourth , a fifth and a 16th finish to earn the title.

The first three races of the series were sailed in fluky 8 to 12 knots wind, resulting in three different race winners. In the last three races the 20 knots trade winds (with 35 knots gust) felt like home waters for Gert-Jan Zeestraten (CUR): we won 2 of the races, securing a second place.

John Dunkley, another Bahamas sailor finished third.

Fifth in the standings was Finn Olympic gold medalist Serge Maury of France

The defending champion, Bob Bowles, finished 8th.

This year Carl Knight had one of those years that all sailors dream of: he won 11 class regattas between April and October, highlighted by the Sunfish North Americans in August. It’s a spectacular record in a class long famous for its big and busy regattas. Carl won the second race but finished overall 10th.

The first Sunfish World champion, Garry Hoyt, finished 11th.

Second place went to Gert-Jan Zeestraten from Curacao.