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A lack of international team racing experience and a slow start to the regatta couldn’t hold back Kiwi Racing at the 2025 team racing world championship in Newport, Rhode Island.
The young New Zealand outfit surprised the fleet with a breakout performance, steadily rising through the ranks to secure an impressive second-place finish. Their final position was decided on a tie-break over Ireland’s Baltimore Sailing Club and the UK’s West Kirby Hawks following five days of high-stakes, high-intensity racing under punishing conditions on Narragansett Bay.
While US entry Corinthian Yacht Club clinched the title on a dominant 20 points, three ahead of the chasing pack, the Kiwis' steady rise captured the attention.
Initially sitting mid-fleet, Kiwi Racing struggled to find their rhythm during the early rounds, but their performance improved as the wind built and the pressure mounted. After collecting 15 points during stage 1, the team fought back, ultimately surging into second place after the final gold fleet round robin - an impressive turnaround that showcased resilience and adaptability on unfamiliar waters, and in an unfamiliar format.
Kiw Racing finished tied on 17 points with two other teams. Photos / : Paul Todd, Outside Images
"It was probably good for us to lose races early on because we learned a lot," skipper Jordan Stevenson said. "We had three days to build and build which really helped; this is a whole new game for us and overall, I think we sailed really well. Some situations could have gone either way, so we lost a couple of races we could have won. It felt like we were the team who improved the most throughout, which is what we were aiming for."
That improvement was no small feat. Facing off against seasoned team racing squads in sustained 20-knot breezes and lumpy seas, the Kiwis had to quickly adapt to the tactical demands of the newly adopted two-on-two keelboat format.
"There were times when our match racing experience translated well, like in the start box where we were really confident," Stevenson said.
"We want to do more of this, especially the 2v2 keelboat racing. It's more fun than dinghy sailing and you don't get as wet!"
Final results here.
