Star Class World Championship 2025: Tradition Meets Innovation in Split
The International Star Class took a significant step forward in race management this year by implementing Vakaros RaceSense for the 2025 Star World Championship in Split, Croatia. This collaboration, first announced in April, marked a turning point in the way one of sailing’s most historical classes approaches race officiating and it brought to the water some truly epic racing.
Split is a world-renowned sailing venue, famous for its challenging mix of conditions. Currents and shifting breezes shaped by the many islands off the Dalmatian coast create a unique and testing racing areat. Against this backdrop, the Star fleet assembled in record numbers, with 101 entries and some of the sport’s greatest names on the starting line: Olympic medalist and local hero Tonci Stipanović, sailing legend Paul Cayard, Enrico Chieffi, Mateusz Kusznierewicz with Bruno Prada, Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise, Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi, among many others.
RaceSense technology played a crucial role throughout the championship. With enhanced GPS tracking, real-time data, and automated OCS detection, the system ensured starts were cleaner and racing fairer. While a few boats were individually recalled, the feared general recalls, so common in 100+ boat fleets, were avoided. Thanks to RaceSense, the fleet consistently got away cleanly, maximizing time spent racing rather than waiting.
Star Class President Paul Cayard summarized it perfectly: “Employing RaceSense will significantly improve the quality of our championships, especially in our 100-boat fleets. We are committed to providing our members with the best possible race management, and this system ensures a higher level of accuracy and fairness.”
Croatian Olympic medalist Tonci Stipanović praised the system: “I love RaceSense, it’s really nice. There are no delays in start time, there’s no hiding from the Race Committee. If you are out, the instrument immediately flags you as OCS after the start. The good thing is that you can take a penalty and once the light passes from red to green you are good to go back racing. I also use the system on the J/70 and it’s just amazing. It saves so much time, we spend just the amount of time needed for racing on the water. I think it’s an incredible system.”
Dutch Star and Finn sailor Wietze Zetzema echoed: “Great job on the technology. I was skeptical at first, but this event didn’t feature any black flags, something we normally always see in fleets this size. Without RaceSense, the scoreboard would have had plenty of black flags and sailors would have spent far more time waiting on the water. If you still have doubts about the system, just ask anyone who sailed in Split this week and you’ll change your mind.”
Marko Mišura, PRO at the Star Class World Championship: “This year’s World Championship brought together 101 boats across a start line over one kilometer long, a scale that usually means multiple recalls, long delays, and endless frustration for race committees. With RaceSense, that challenge became an opportunity. Six races were completed with zero general recalls. Every start was clean, every result precise, and hours of racing time were saved. RaceSense also gave the race committee new flexibility, allowing two full races to be run in a single day and even making up for a race lost to bad weather. GPS-verified finish tracking ensured accuracy, reduced disputes, and strengthened fairness throughout the fleet. At the 2025 Star Class World Championship, RaceSense proved its value beyond doubt. It makes racing fairer, faster, and more flexible, without compromising the traditions of the sport. It is, truly, a game changer.”
The success of RaceSense at the 2025 Star World Championship underlines how versatile this technology is. By ensuring fairness, saving time, and improving the racing experience, RaceSense has proven its value not only for foiling classes but also for historic fleets like the Star.
As the partnership continues with the 2026 Star Worlds in Miami, the message is clear: technology like RaceSense is essential for the ongoing growth and development of the sport, honoring tradition while embracing innovation.
