The 2024 RS500 World Championship had 58 boats on the start line, including four former World Champions in the RS500 Class and plenty of ex-Olympic, ex-World and European Champions. All brought their A-game, with the week shaping up to be the highest level of competition this Corinthian sailing class had ever seen.
Racing took place in Bruinisse, Netherlands, run by RS Sailing NL’s Aquavitesse, with key sponsors Rooster and Provincie Zeeland supporting the event. The RS Feva World Championship was held in the same location the week before and some of the RS Feva youth sailors took the opportunity to stay-on and race in the RS500 Worlds too; the perfect transition class for the next step in their sailing journey.
Sailors experienced all sorts of conditions during the week, 5th – 9th August, from millpond conditions in the baking sunshine through to 20 knots of breeze, gusting up to 28 knots, on the final day. 
The top positions in the leader board changed daily with the mixed conditions a test of determination, skill and endurance for all teams – especially on the last day.
“We even saw the best sailors capsizing, which shows just how challenging – and fun! – it was on the water today,” said competitor, and RS Sailing’s Commercial Director, Michiel Geerling. “It was very cool to see how the top teams battled. Even after the first race there was still only 1 point difference between the top two.”
A tight fight for the finish, even up until the end, the World Championship title was decided on the very last race. Michiel tells us how it prevailed; “Pim, as an ex-Olympian, simply just showed us how it was done in heavy weather, he was absolutely the better sailor and a well-deserved win.”
So, it was the Netherland’s brother-sister duo, Pim and Lisa van Vugt, of Vugt Sail, who were crowned RS500 World Champions 2024. 
Pim gave a speech during the prize giving where he thanked the efforts of not just his sister but all the crews in the event – especially during the light wind days of the championship. “It’s so much teamwork, without the crews you just can’t do it.”
Great Britain’s Tim and Heather Wilkins of Gurnard Sailing Club took Silver, followed by another British team, Paul Cullen (Weir Wood Sailing Club) and Fresh Abendstern (RDNBYC) in Bronze.
In the Silver fleet, newcomers Netherland’s team Gijs Regoort and Bjorn Tollenaar of Watersportvereniging Wolphaartsdijk took the title, after sailing in the RS Feva World Championship the week before.
“It’s great to see how these boys got inspired during the RS Feva Worlds and how they’ve been going on marketplace to find a last-minute boat to buy to join the RS500 Worlds” says Michiel. “They did well in the light winds and then even in the big winds on the last day they were able to secure second place the first race. They had such an amazing week that they’ve told us they’ll never leave the class. They will certainly be a team to watch in years to come.”
Switzerland’s Gabriele Motta and Alberto Deriu took second place in the Silver Fleet followed by John Copper & Andy Maw from Great Britain in Bronze.
In the Women’s category, Czech team Anna Justová & Klara Houskova of YC CERE placed first, followed by two Netherland’s teams Danique Bancken & Frédérique Van Holk and Daphne Somers & Melani de Bat, respectively.
In the Youth category, Italy’s Arturo Beltrando & Enea Beltrando took Gold, followed by Czech Republic’s Lucie Kosatova & Vojtech Cibulka in Silver and Great Britain’s Thomas Leather & Samuel Leather in Bronze.
In the Masters, Netherland’s Bruno Goris & Edith Kanters took Gold, with local team John Reynolds & Fran Howell in Silver, and John Copper & Andy Maw from Great Britain in Bronze.
“I would like to thank all the organisers, volunteers, supporter and sponsors who helped make this event happen”, says Michiel. “To me, it especially highlights how incredible Bruinisse is as a venue. And lastly, Richard and Marieke of Aquavitesse, have just been so amazing.”
Full results are available here.
The RS500 International Class would like to thank all their event sponsors; Provincie Zeeland, Rooster, Kuiper Verzekeringen, Gemeente Schouwen-Duiveland, Carbonmasts.com, Aquavitesse, Jachthaven Bruinisse and RS Sailing.
