Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Bruno Prada and a Star-Filled Fleet Highlight a Day of Tactical Mastery at the 2025 Star World Championship in Croatia.

On a day where the wind showed off its unpredictable nature, Day 2 of the 2025 Star World Championship was a true testament to sailors’ tactical prowess and adaptability. Waiting ashore for 90 minutes, the 101-boat fleet took the plunge, giving spectators a breathtaking spectacle on the Adriatic. Despite an uncertain forecast, the Race Committee took a gamble and docked out at 12.30pm. Their courage paid off when, by early afternoon, a substantial 12-knot easterly graced the racecourse, accompanied by a moderate chop across the Split Channel.
The race commenced at 2.30pm amid superb conditions. The Vakaros RaceSense system precisely detected all OCS boats in real time, averting a general recall and ensuring a clean getaway for the fleet. The first upwind leg quickly turned into a tactical battlefield. Amidst this intense rivalry, teams who dared to tack early toward the middle reached the top mark in front. Leading the charge were World Champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada, followed closely by Eric Doyle with Payson Infelise and the American team of Jim Buckingham and Brad Nichol. As the first downwind leg unfolded, Kusznierewicz and Prada held onto their lead. However, Buckingham/Nichol and the German duo of Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy didn’t fall far behind, overtaking Doyle/Infelise and narrowing the gap. A tactical reshuffle in the second upwind found Merkelbach and Koy reading shifts to perfection, leading the pack at the second top mark, followed by Kusznierewicz/Prada and Italian champions, Diego Negri with Sergio Lambertenghi. Unfazed by the competition, the Italians raced a flawless final downwind leg, surfing into the lead and taking first place at the finish line, followed by Merkelbach/Koy and Kusznierewicz/Prada. Despite dramatic shifts and an absent right trend, the Italian team managed to stay on course and celebrate victory. Merkelbach was also in high spirits, commending the nice breeze of the day and the close race. With two races down, Negri and Lambertenghi lead the event’s overall ranking. Eckert and Melo stand second despite finishing twelfth on the day, while Heuwinkel and Spehr, the U30 Bacardi Cup winners, sit provisionally in third. With a tumultuous forecast for Day 3, whether the conditions will play the field or lead to a pause in this sailing showdown remains an enticing question.