2025 Oceania & Australian Youth & Open Championships
ILCA 6 Action Mara Stransky Leads Evie Saunders & Hugo Ralph Photo by Spikey Mikey
The Oceania & Australian Youth & Open Championships was held at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Manly Queensland 1-8 January 2025. There were 53 NSW & ACT sailors among the 223 in the three ILCA classes sailed in five fleets. The full 12 scheduled races were completed in mostly variable sea breeze conditions.
The first day saw very strong SE winds with the second race of the day abandoned when a 35 knot front moved over the course. Three races were scheduled on the second day with PRO Col Dods keen to get back onto the regatta schedule. This day proved to be the toughest of the regatta.
Days 3 to 6 were sailed in predictable moderate seas breeze conditions allowing the event to proceed like clockwork give or take a few general recalls.
Almost all the top Australian ILCA sailors were competing along with sailors from 10 other countries in Oceania, North America, Europe and Asia regions.
Action a Plenty in the ILCA 4s at RQYS
It was great to see the large number of ILCA 4 sailors. ILCA 4s were the largest class with 92 entries with 27 from NSW & ACT. Just more than half the ILCA 4 fleets were female. The ILCA 4s sailed for the first time in two fleets. In a close contest they were lead home by Tinaroo Queenslander Breanne Wadley RQYS/TSC from Victorian Callum Simmons SSCBC/IHYC who was first Under 18 and Singaporean Ian Goh. First Under 16 was overall 4th placed WA sailors Thomas Cooper RFBYC/FSC. Raphael McLachlan DBSC/RSYS 9th and Zac Howell HHSC 13th were the best placed NSW sailors.
The ILCA 6s had 85 entries sailing in two fleets. They were dominated by the top women sailors with 8 of the top 10 and all of the top 6 places filled by women. The clear winner was RQYS and Tokyo Olympic representative Mara Stransky. Mara overcame a F3 race retirement due to a second Rule 42 infringement with a strong finish to win from Marseille Olympic representative WA’s Zoe Thomson RFBYC.
Manly YC sailor Evie Saunders won three races to finish 3rd and was first Under 21. NSW sailors Healy Ryan DBSC/HHSC was first male first Under 17 and 7th place overall. Sylvie Stannage HHSC was 13th.
Hamish Gilsenan Leads Mike Wilson in ILCA 7
The ILCA 7s fleet of 46 podium was dominated by WA sailors with four of the top six from that state. Zac Littlewood RFBYC won after a first place in the final heat. Zac received a second yellow flag in the first race of the final day setting the scene for a nail biting finish with Netherlands Olympic sailor Duko Bos. Zac’s win in Race 12 got him across the line on a countback.
Ethan McAulay RPYC who had beaten Zac and Duko in the lead up event Sail Melbourne was well placed until a second yellow flag in Race 9 forced him to withdraw from that race. Ethan finished 3rd. WA sailors Stefan Elliott-Shircore FSC and Michael Compton SoPYC/FSC completed the WA domination with Finn Alexander RSYS/DBSC completing the podium places. First Under 21 in the ILCA 7s was Isaac Schotte RQYS. Campbell Patton DBSC/RSYS was 8th with Daniel Costandi DBSC/GRSC 12th and Alexander Bijkerk RPAYC/DBSC 13th.
The Battens Trophy for the best performing state returned to WA where it has resided for most of its life since 1975. Victoria in 2023 and Queensland in 2024 interrupted the line however the fabulous strength of the WA ICLA 7 team carried the day in 2025.
Winners are Grinners – Battens Winning Team
The next ILCA Australian & Oceania Open & Youth Championships will be held at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania 1-8 January 2026. Information on this event is in a post on our web site Here.
The full results of the event are Here.
All the event details are on the competitors page on the RQYS web site Here.
RQYS event photos are Here.
There is a more detailed wrap on he event by Andrew Stransky Here.
NSW & ACT 2025 State Masters SLMASC 1-2 February
The 2025 ILCA NSW & ACT Masters is coming up 1-2 February at South Lake Macquarie ASC at Sunshine on Lake Macquarie.
This is one of our favourite venues with a great friendly club, heaps of rigging area and terrific uncrowded sailing waters. At this time of year sailing conditions on the lake are excellent.
We have always had well over 100 boats competing in the several times that we have run our State Masters at South Lakes.
The Notice of Race is Here.
Entries can be placed online Here or at the club up until 11.30am on Saturday 1 February.
ILCA Masters Golf Tournament 31 January
The State Masters Golf Tournament returns this season in the new hands of Northbridge SC’s Peter Doyle.
Peter has gone a little upmarket and booked the beautiful Kooindah Waters Golf Club in Wyong for Friday 31 January 2025. So plan your trip to South Lake Macquarie with a stopover around midday for a light lunch and team selection before a 1:00pm first tee time.
It might sound grand to play in a Masters Golf Tournament but for ours you don’t have to be a good golfer, just come for fun. It will be an Ambrose style format. Cost will be $100 per head with cart.
Please let Peter know if you are a likely starter by text (0413 872 787) or email (peterdoylenorthbridge@gmail.com).
Oceania & Australian Championships RQYS Information
The 2025 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships will be held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Manly Queensland between 1-8 January 2025.
Racing will start on Thursday 2nd January with the practice race. From Friday 3rd until Wednesday 8th January two races back to back are scheduled 12 races in all. The ILCA 4 (91 entries) and the ILCA 6 (87 entries) will both be sailed with split fleets. The ILCA 7s (44 entries) will sail as a single fleet.
The Regatta Competitor Page with links to all information is Here
You can joint the Whatsapp Group Here to receive notification on your mobile when a notice is posted
Competitor List is Here
Sailing Instructions are Here
Notice of Race is Here
RQYS Video will be posted Here
RQYS Weather and rigging area webcam are Here
BoM MetEye (Peel Island) 7 day 3 hourly forecasts are Here
AusILCA AGM will be held at 0900 on 5 January at RQYS Agenda is Here
Entries Now Open Australian ILCA Masters
Entries are now open Here for the 2025 Oceania & Australian Masters Championships 21–24 February at Westernport Yacht Club Balnarring Beach, Victoria.
To encourage growth in the ILCA4 division, a special entry fee of AUD120 is provided.
This is the Australian ranking event for the 2025 ILCA World Masters 19-28 September Formia, Italy.
The Notice of Race is Here.
2025 National Championships On Time Entries Close 14 December
The 2025 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships will be held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Manly Queensland between 1-8 January 2025.
The Notice of Race for this event is Here.
Entries prior to 14 December $450 can be placed Here. After this date entries may be lodged with a $100 late fee.
The Regatta Competitor Page with links to race documents, entry, venue information and WhatsApp Chat Group for notifications of new information is Here.
Charters are available from NB Sailsports Performance Sailcraft Australia and Devoti Sailing.
This event is the qualifying event for Australian sailors applying for entry to any 2025 ILCA World Open and Youth Championships.
State Championships GRSC Results
78 sailors enjoyed the sailing and two day workout at the State Championships at Georges River Sailing Club over the weekend 16-17 November.
On both days there were good NE 13-20 knot breezes which have been somewhat absent this season. On Sunday the forecast was for over 30 knots NE with a maximum runout tide in the afternoon so it was wisely decided to make a 0900 start to the proceedings.
The small but very competitive ILCA 7 fleet was lead by Campbell Patton DBSC/RSYS/RBYC by a single point from Daniel Costandi GRSC/DBSC. Julian Taylor DBSC/WSC was third and first Under 21.
The ILCA 6s saw some fabulous sailing and close competition. At the end of the day it was Mara Stransky RQYS 2021 Australian Olympic representative who prevailed posting three bullets on Sunday to match 2nd placed Healy Ryan’s DBSC/HHSC three wins on Saturday. Third was up and coming Victorian sailors Casey Imeneo McCYC & SSCBC. Frances Beebe RQYS 4th and Sylvie Stannage HHSC 5th rounded out the cube winners. Singapore sailor Isaac Goh CSC SGP was first Under 19 and Healy Ryan won the first Under 17 cube.
There was a good fleet of 24 ILCA 4s showing great skill in some testing conditions with wind against tide generating some steep seas many would not have experienced before. Jago Tucker WSC dominated the fleet counting 5 wins. Jago is a star sailor from the WSC squad under Rob McMillan. 2nd was Zac Howell HHSC with Raphael McLachlan DBSC/RSYS and Isabella Taylor WSC completing the cube awards. Jago also won the first Under 18 and Zac won the Under 16 cube.
Thanks to our RO Andrew McLachlan for some fine officiating and judgement and the fabulous volunteers who help sailors with parking, sand and dolly management and on the water tasks in the lumpy conditions. Much appreciated.
Final results of State Championships 2024 are Here.
ILCA 6 Winner Mara Stransky in Action at Previous States
NSW & ACT ILCA AGM Deferred to 2nd February 2025
Ahoy the Annual General Meeting of NSW & ACT ILCA Inc which was to be held held 9.00am 17 November at Georges River Sailing Club had to be deferred due to sailing activities being brought forward as dictated by the weather.
The AGM will now be run at the State Masters at South Lakes Sailing Club 9.00am 2 February 2025.
Please come along have your say and hear how we are travelling. Please consider joining our small band of enthusiastic volunteers who keep the ship afloat.
This year we have a Special Resolution which the ATO through the Australian Business Register requires of all us not for profit bodies and which needs a new clause to be added to our constitution.
The Agenda for the meeting along with reports and details of the Special Resolution are Here.
State Championships GRSC 16-17 November
The Open & Youth State Championships are 16-17 November at Georges River Sailing Club.
This is our cube event for Open & Youth categories however as always we will have prizes for these and Masters.
GRSC provides a great open water venue. It is a great club for sailing amenities and for socialising.
This event will be great lead up to the busy ILCA east coast program of State Championships here and Victoria, Sail Melbourne, Sydney and Bribane then the Open & Youth Nationals at RQYS Brisbane.
The Notice of Race is Here and the Sailing Instructions are Here.
Venue information with parking & rigging information and parking permit is Here.
You can enter for the event online Here or up until 11.30am on Saturday 16th at the club.
This season we are including membership with our race entry. If you sail in this event you will be eligible to enter any or all of the follow on regattas.
2025 Solidarity Program Representatives Announced
ILCA Oceania is delighted to announce the following sailors have been selected by their district as the Solidarity representative for 2025 program run during the 2025 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships at RQYS 1-8 January.
| ILCA District | Name | Club | Sailing History |
| QLD | Evie McGuire | Southport YC | Optimists |
| NSW/ACT | Amelia (Milly) Thorne | Hunters Hill SC | Optimist, Flying 11 |
| VIC | Alexandria Ewart | Davies Bay YC | Pacer |
| TAS | Genevieve Strutton | Royal YC of Tasmania | Optimist, Int Cadet |
| SA | Sophia Homes | Brighton & Seacliff YC | Optimists |
| WA | Robyn Mary Tutty | Hillary YC | Minnows |
| NZ | Lucy Luxford | Charteris Bay YC | Optimist, P class |
| Solomon Is | Renee Baragamu | Solomon Is Sailing Ass | Optimists |
This program encourages young female sailors (ages 13-16) to participate in a world-class sailing championship and aims to foster a lasting love for sailing among young girls and support their development within the sport.
This is the third year of the program and already some participants have transitioned to the ILCA 6 and participated in subsequent State & National events.
This year local builder PSA have come on board and very generously will provide charter boats and merchandise for all the sailors. Australian Sailing are also providing much appreciated support for the program.
Thanks to the ILCA districts for their support and for managing the selection process.
The full ILCA Oceania Press Release is Here.
New Owner of Performance Sailcraft Australia
Australian ILCA builder Performance Sailcraft Australia PSA has been purchased from long term owner the Spencer family of New Zealand.
The new owner is Jersey domiciled fintech entrepreneur Nick Ogden. Nick has a team busy re-establishing production and distribution having been approved by ILCA International as an ILCA builder. One of now nine worldwide.
We understand that under new owner PSA is in the process of;
- Setting up a new factory at Morisset on the Central Coast of NSW
- Obtaining new ILCA standard molds and joining jig so all world builders will have molds from the same master
- Retaining experienced PSA ILCA building skilled staff
- Establishing a state based dealer network to support sales and the class
It will take time for fabrication, stocking and normal service to be establish following the sale of stock and closure of the old factory at Fountaindale.
Open & Youth Nationals at RQYS 1-8 January
The 2025 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships will be held at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Manly Queensland between 1-8 January 2025. This will be a terrific event with great conditions at a super club – what’s not to like.
The Notice of Race for this event is Here.
Entries prior to 14 December $450 can be placed Here. After this date entries may be lodged with a $100 late fee.
The Regatta Competitor Page with links to race documents, entry, venue information and WhatsApp Chat Group for notifications of new information is Here.
Charters are available from NB Sailsports Performance Sailcraft Australia. and Devoti Sailing.
This event is the qualifying event for Australian sailors applying for entry to any 2025 ILCA World Open and Youth Championships.
Racing Rules of Sailing Chat GPT
The RRS are very comprehensive and can be difficult to navigate let alone memorise.
Stuart Holdsworth has created a Chat GPT to help out sailors, race committees and protest committees. In this free AI driven rules sailing assistant you just ask it questions and give it scenarios and it gives an analysis of the relevant rules.
Its purpose is to educate sailors and help avoid unnecessary protests or disputes.
Many, even expert sailors have been blown away by it and it is now the first point of reference for many when facing rules based incidents.
The link to the Chat GPT is
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-7FhRw3LWg-racing-rules-of-sailing-assistant
You need to sign into Chat GPT with Google, Apple or Microsoft IDs or create a GPT account. This is free to use.
Results Coast Championships Mannering Park
Winners are grinners – Top ILCA 6 sailors at Mannering Park – Overall winner was Sylvie Stannage
48 ILCAs entered for the Coast Championships held at Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club 12-13 October.
On Saturday 3 races were completed with a 16-25kt southerly testing all the sailors. On Sunday RO Andrew McLachlan AP’ed the fleets ashore until a nice 10-14 knot NE breeze kicked in around 1300. Conditions were then ideal and allowed the first away ILCA 4s to complete 3 races with the 6s and 7s managing 2 races before the 3.30pm time limit.
In the ILCA 4s DBSC sailors Raphael McLachlan and Charlotte Jenkins won all the races between them with Raphael finishing ahead by 2 points overall. Sophie Borner Harrison from Hunters Hill SC was third. Raphael was first Under 16 and Charlotte first under 18 with Lawrence Crew from MHASC winning first Master.
In the ILCA 6s Sylvie Stannage HHSC and Healy Ryan HHSC/DBSC shared the wins with Sylvie winning overall by a single point. Healy who in August won Under 16 European Championship in Bangor, Northern Ireland was first under 16. GGM Jeff Loosemore MHASC was third.
In the ILCA 7s Brett Beyer Woollahra SC won with a consistent series of 3 wins and 2 seconds. Tom Farley Belmont 16s/Newcastle CYC was second a point ahead of Alexander Bijkerk RPAYC/DBSC.
Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club is a great little club and did a terrific job running this event for us. The southern end of Lake Macquarie offers great clear, uncongested sailing waters which was much appreciated.
The final results for the event are Here.
Coast Championships Mannering Park 12-13 October
Our NSW & ACT events kick off with the Coast Championships at Mannering Park Sailing Club 12-13 October.
Mannering Park SC is a great small club at the very southern end of Lake Macquarie. It provides great uncrowded sailing water with terrific shore vantage points. The club is at 27 Grace Street Mannering Park – Mrs Google knows the way.
The Notice of Race for the event is Here. Sailing Instructions are Here.
Entries can be placed Here or up until 11.30am on Saturday at the club.
This season we are bundling association membership with race entry so if you enter any of our events you will be registered as a financial member which allows you to compete at any ILCA district, national, regional or World championship.
For planning our district and all known national and World events are listed on our Events Page.
