Puerto Sherry, Spain – April 2025
A major triumph for the German Flying Dutchman team: Kilian König and Johannes Brack from Hannoverscher Yacht-Club / Segel-Club Edersee have claimed their first Flying Dutchman World Championship title! Under challenging conditions, the experienced duo prevailed against a strong international fleet.
After several close attempts in recent years — including three bronze medals — König and Brack finally secured the world title in Puerto Sherry. Particularly remarkable: in addition to winning the World Championship, they were awarded the prestigious Silver Sombrero Trophy for achieving the lowest total points without a discard.
The championship week was marked by extreme weather. After two opening light-wind races — where König and Brack finished first and third — storms with gusts over 40 knots kept the fleet ashore for two days. When racing resumed, König and Brack dominated the strong breeze, even overcoming a broken trapeze wire mid-race by making repairs directly on the water.
With consistent top finishes, the pair secured the title before the final race, with their 10th place becoming their discard result.
The Hungarian duo Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos, 14-time FD World Champions, took silver, while Italy’s Nicola and Francesco Vespasiani claimed bronze. Defending World Champions Kay-Uwe Lüdtke and Kai Schäfers from Germany finished fourth.
This World Championship also marked the conclusion of the FD Winter Series in Puerto Sherry, which had begun with the European Championship in autumn 2024 and continued with a series of regattas and training events over the winter months.
The next chance to see the new World Champions defend their title will be at the 2026 FD World Championship, set to take place during Kiel Week in Germany.
Congratulations, Kilian and Johannes!
> Pictures of Worlds 2025
