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By the time the 2024 Moth world championships arrive, Jake Pye will have waited 18 months for another shot at the title.
And he plans to make it well worth the wait.
The 19-year-old Manly Sailing Club sailor will be one of the favourites for the world championships, held at his home club early next month, after
being thwarted by Mother Nature at the 2023 event.
Pye was leading after two races at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy last June before light winds caused the regatta to be abandoned without an official result.
He had been in dominant form leading into the event, having won the International Moth UK open championships – the preworlds – at the same venue just days earlier.
Now, as one of 79 confirmed entries for the 2024 edition, Pye has spent the past year and a half working to improve his chances.
In January, he successfully defended his title at the Moth national championships, also held at Manly – the crown he first claimed a year earlier by winning 13 out of 18 races against a fleet packed with international talent.
This time, he held off a strong challenge from Manly teammate Mattias Coutts, who finished second by just one point.
A week after lifting the trophy, Pye found himself helming the Shaw 750F Animal Biscuits in the Bay of Islands Sailing Week – his first taste of big-boat racing. He stepped in for owner and regular skipper Craig Partridge, and, alongside Craig Gurnell and Matt Randall, sailed Animal Biscuits to victory in the 13-strong sports boats division, winning all but one of the races.
"I've spent most of this year training in the Moth and doing a bit of wingfoil testing for North Foils," Pye said. "Over the past couple of months, I've really upped the tempo, and I'm sailing the Moth every chance I get, mostly with the core group at Manly."
The Moth world championships has received 79 entries. Photos / Manly Sailing Club
Ensuring his equipment will be competitive when racing starts on December 30 has also been a key focus for Pye.
"I've been making sure the boat is up to scratch with the latest equipment, and that all the systems are working well and are durable. Alongside my sailing training, I'm also doing a lot of physical training – body conditioning to allow me to perform and push the boat to its full potential during the
worlds."
He is excited about the list of entries for the event, which includes over a dozen top international sailors from various disciplines, including Olympic medallists and SailGP and America's Cup stars.
"The number of entries means we could all be on one big start line, which is always very exciting."
Competing against the likes of Sebastien Schneiter, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, Phil Robertson and other world-class sailors, Pye knows the competition
will be fierce.
"The level of the fleet will be very high, as the Moth class always attracts many professional sailors. It'll be amazing to compete against the America's Cup and SailGP guys on the same racecourse and to learn a few tricks from their wealth of experience."
Not that he will be overawed by the occasion or the competition.
"I've been lucky enough to sail against some of them before and get to know them. They're top-notch sailors who'll be coming here to win. These guys have great racing knowledge that they'll transfer to the Moth, but the boat-handling and physical demands of sailing this class are generally
what takes some time to master," he said. "I'm confident that I can do well. I'll have home advantage, as well as incredible training partners. I've been training hard with what I have, and I'm really looking forward to that first race."
Click here for the full list of entries.
Six to watch
Jean-Baptiste Bernaz
Five-time Olympian and ILCA 7 world champion, and was second to Jake Pye at the 2023 Moth world champs.
Diego Botin
Olympic gold medallist in the 49er at Paris 2024, and a driver for the Spain SailGP team.
Mattias Coutts
A rising star in New Zealand sailing and the runner-up at the 2024 Moth national championships.
Phil Robertson
Former match racing world champion, SailGP veteran and America's Cup advisor.
Hattie Rogers
UK national Moth champion, multiple Waszp world champion, and a member of Britain's Women's America's Cup team.
Helena Scutt
Former Moth world champ, Olympian, 2022 Foiling Sailor of the Year, and American Magic Women's America's Cup team member.
