Someone obviously turned on a very large light at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club in Victoria, because hundred of Moths are currently flying in from all over the world!

We were going to say ‘not Moths of the flying variety’, but even that doesn’t work! These little boats DO fly! The International Moth worlds are being held this weekend, and there’s some serious rivalry between sailors.

Never before has the Moth class been so exciting, with hydrofoils now standard on all boats, skippers are coming from all over the world to compete in the development class. Big names like Nathan Outteridge (skipper of Artemis Americas Cup AC62) and Tom Slingsby (of Oracle) will be battling it out on a much smaller boat than they’re used to. These professional sailors are usually found on multi million dollar yachts, or winning gold medals in the Olympics.

Not this week!

They’re giving up the pay cheques for a week of hard and fast sailing on boats costing less than $10,000. Entire crews are competing against one an other, each with their own 3m piece of carbon at their feet, flying 1-2m above the waters surface.

Rumored to be atop the podium this year is Australian sailor Nathan Outteridge, winner of last years Moth Worlds and current Americas Cup skipper. Conditions are forecast to be ideal for racing, with yellow arrows and smooth water, and alongside the serious racing, there will be the Zhik Mothapalooza. Famous for some of the biggest and most elaborate sailing shenanigans on earth, the Mothapalooza is the stuff legends are made of. This year the highlight will be a foiling relay race, with teams competing to pass a baton over four laps of a course.

The Mothapolooza and 2015 International Moth Worlds are on this week at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club in Victoria. For live updates and results after the event, visit the Moth Worlds Website.

 

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