Legends Day Out - 2024 Moth Worlds

Watch the Footage - https://www.facebook.com/reel/961554208815248

An epic day of racing with some of yachting's legends - Russell Coutts, Jo Aleh, Elise Beavis, Rod Davis, and crews, competing in the new double-handed hiking skiff, the VX Two, at the Legends Day Out.

In a thrilling four-race series sailed in challenging winds, the day delivered on its promise of “nothing short of epic sailing.” Then again, what would you expect when there are 5 Olympic Medals between the skippers!

The race course broke away from a traditional upwind first leg and saw the boats head off on a two-sail reach, a bear away on mark one followed by a gybe and hoist of the asymmetrical gennaker for a blast down to a bottom gate and then an upwind battle. The final leg was a downwind finish so the asymmetrical could be flown.

And what a battle. The starting lineups showed why these four yachties are legends – by the 4th race all teams were making the most of the VX Two’s quick acceleration and hitting the start line with a split second to spare (although Coutts did demonstrate his starting prowess, winning nearly every start).

The gybe proved brutal for most teams in which early leaders often met their fate, with this happening to Davis in the 1st race and Coutts in the 2nd race. Aleh consistently used her finely honed skiff skills particularly on this leg to gain the lead, with her crew making the gennaker hoists and drops look easy, even in windy conditions.

The bottom mark roundings were a true spectacle, with teams in hot pursuit of each other. Impressively they got the upwind sail trim set quickly in the VX Two. Split tacks between the boats often resulted, with some boats heading out for more pressure while others picked the shoreline for the shifts. This often resulted in lead changes at the top mark.

One dramatic moment came when Beavis, who was ahead in race 4, hooked into a 26+ knot gust while on the final downwind leg to the finish, which sent the VX Two off at a speed most likely to have never been reached before in a double-handed hiking boat. While making the moment look easy, unfortunately for Beavis it meant their final gybe to the finish could only be made past the finish pin mark, which allowed Davis to sail through to claim the win.

It was an impressive day, where all four legends demonstrated exactly why they are Olympic medalists, World Champions, America’s Cup winners, Match Racing World Champions, and Grand Prix winners. Their crews also showed “legendary” skills.

In the end, Jo Aleh and her crew took out the event, showcasing expert hiking-skiff sailing.

Photos: Jana McDiarmid