Bora Gulari Hailed First American Two-Time Champion of the Moth World Championship

The weather may not have been the best, but on October 16, during a rainy, light-air day off Hawaii, U.S. sailor Bora Gulari did what no American has been able to do in over half a century—win a second International Moth World Championship.

Gulari’s McDougall + McConaghy International Moth World Championship comes four years after his first Moth World Championship in Cascade Locks, Oregon—a win that also netted him the 2009 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award.

At the time, Gulari’s Rolex nod was a somewhat controversial one because of the then esoteric nature of the foiling Moth class. However, his ability to prevail in a cutting-edge class that for years has been dominated by sailors from Great Britain and Australia, convinced the panel of judges.

Of course, Gulari’s victory is just as much a team victory as it is an individual one. “[The win] hasn’t really set in yet,” said Gulari after the race. “One thing I know for sure is that without Anthony, George, Brad, and pretty much the entire US Moth racing team, I would never be World Champion again.”

According to Gulari, the Mach 2 Moth, the boat he raced in, had undergone several small changes, according to Gulari. “It’s the perfect platform for this kind of sailing. We’ve been working for a solid year in Detroit, refining and changing things bit by bit until they’re perfect,” he said.

The boat isn’t the only thing that was enhanced. “North Sails and sailmaker Chris Williams came up with an extremely powerful sail design for this Worlds championship. I’ve never sailed with a faster sail since I bought my first Moth,” Gulani added.

All photos by Thierry Martinez