ILCA NSW & ACT

Production underway in new Morisset factory & new ILCAs ready to ship to a NZ customer

Performance Sailcraft Australia (PSA now a division of global Performance Marine Group) is back in production in their new purpose built factory at Morisset. They have ramped production including for a single order of 10 new boats for a New Zealand customer.

Under new ownership PSA has already provided charter boats for Oceania sailors selected for our Solidarity Program at 2025 Championships in Brisbane. New PSA owner Nick Ogden has agreed to ongoing support for this initiative.

Nick proudly showed his new facility to ICLA Australia & Oceania Chair and ILCA World Council member Ken Hurling at a visit in May.

On the visit Ken said he “We are very pleased to have PSA back in production in this world class facility. This is due to Nick and Jo Ogden’s vision, resources and persistence to overcome a number of hurdles in the transfer of ownership and continuation as an ILCA builder.”

Ken added “ILCA Australia & ILCA Oceania look forward to continued co-operation with PSA to advance the sailing of ILCAs in our region with a world class local builder.”

Shopfront at new PSA facility with some sample products on display

Zoe Thomson showing how it’s done in strong winds on Day 6 in Qingdao

19 of Australia’s top sailors (8 ILCA 6 and 11 ILCA 7) competed in the 2025 ILCA Open World Championships at the 2008 Olympic venue Qingdao, China. There are 99 women and 139 men sailing in the event which ran from 10 to 17 May.

No races were completed on any of the first four days. Reasonable winds were  forecast but no really sailable winds arrived until Day 5. The event finished will bang on Day 6 with 25 knot plus winds sweeping across the two course areas.

The ILCA 6 Women completed 6 races and the ILCA 7 Men just 5. All races were sailed as qualifying races with the split fleets (3 for ILCA 7 and 2 for ILCA 6). There were no gold and silver finals fleet races.

In the ILCA 6 event the winner Louise Cervera FRA posted two wins in the light wind races and then consistent places when the oysters were blowing off the rocks on the final day. Agata Barwinska POL and Eve Mcmahon IRL were separated by a tie break in second and third. The Australian team performed very well with Elyse Ainsworth 7th, Zoe Thomson 12th and Sylvie Stannage 16th.

In the ILCA 7s it all came down to the last race in a semi gale as all the top ranked sailors were very close on points and already had a bad race to drop. In the end there were just three points separating the top 6 sailors. In the last race Willem Wiersema NED and Pavlos Kontides CYP won their respective fleet races and finished one point apart in that order. WA’s Zac Littlewood after a great and consistent series had a 6th in the final race and finished two points away from Willem in third. Fellow WA sailors Ethan Mcaullay was next best Australian in 16th.

Full results are Here.

There is some great commentary on YouTube by Jon Emmett and Lily Xu over the live stream of Day 5 and Day 6 races. Well worth watching for the Olympic sailor and coach insights on the tactics and techniques of the competitors.

The Regatta Online Management System with links to results and all information is Here.

The event web site is Here and photos are Here.

The South Pacific Laser Masters is on again at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron,  Manly between 25th and 28th July.

The event will be preceded by the traditional ILCA Forum on the evening of Thursday 24th July.

RQYS, QILCA and Kerry Waraker always put on a great event and the weather is pretty well guaranteed  to be better than anywhere  further south.

NoR for the event is Here. You can enter online Here. The event web site is RQYS web site.

Venues and dates for main 2025-26 events have been posted on our Events Page. The list includes all District, Australian, Oceania and World Championship events we are aware of. If you know of others let us know.

There will be four NSW & ACT run events  next season. NoR and entry links will be posted shortly.

Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania is where it is all happening for ILCA Oceania & Nationals. At the same time experience all the activity around the Sydney Hobart race and Tasmania’s Taste of Summer in Hobart.

Get you entry and bookings in early so you don’t miss the prime travel and accommodation spots.

Scan the QR code or go to https://ryct.org.au/2026-ilca-oceania-australian-championship/ for links to NoR, entry and all the information on the event transport, accommodation and charters.

Australian Sailing has just announced that from World Sailing 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships YSWC in Vilamoura, Portugal 12-20 December 2025 they will resume supporting a boat with a female and a male crew in ILCA 6, 420, 29′er, IQ, Kitefoil and a mixed gender crew in the Nacra.

Only Australian Sailing AS can lodge entries for YSWC and they will select the sailors to represent Australia from their nominated selection event which for 2025 for the ILCA 6 will be the AS NSW Youth Sail event at Toronto ASC 4-6 October 2025.

While AS will fund support for the sailors selected the sailors will need to self fund entry accommodation and travel (estimated by AS at between $10,000 -$13,000).

AS have some information on a post on their web site Here. AS request that sailors who may be interested to compete complete a non binding expression of interest by 13 May Here.

YSWC comprising 11 events will see around 400 of the top sailors aged above 12 and under 19 years (on 31 December 2025) from 70 countries competing.

Lesson for this week – Keep your rudder straight and never ever give up.

Yoga on the VYC Deck to Kick the Day Off

The Women’s Regatta at VYC on 22 March saw an impressive turnout, with 38 sailors hitting the water, including 10 in the combined Green Fleet.

The day started with a morning yoga session, providing a calm and energizing start for the sailors. It was followed by workshops lead by Ellen Sijtsma – Fitness, nutrition and hydration Erica Kirby – Everything you wanted to know about the rules but were afraid to ask, and Vanessa Dudley – Race preparation and starting.

The racing took place in tricky 5-10 knot puffy conditions, with three races completed. Harper Spacey was first overall in ILCA 4s while in the ILCA 6 fleet, Sara Bruce delivered an exceptional performance, dominating the day with consistent sailing resulting in 3 wins. The Green Fleet, comprising novice sailors from the Ladies Learn to Sail program, made their regatta debut, showcasing incredible enthusiasm and determination. Full results are Here.

The event concluded with a prize-giving ceremony a quite special discussion on the VYC veranda at sunset with three guest panellists, all world class women sailors.

Delicious Thai food and an inspirational sunset discussion marked the end of a highly successful regatta.

Thanks to session leaders, panellists and to the VYC and their enthusiastic volunteers for a great and informative day.

Full event report with some photos is Here.

Panel Session MC Lucy Ede with Panelists Carolijn Brouwer, Evie Hasseldine and Vanessa Dudley

Sylvie Stannage in control in ILCA 6s

The Metropolitan Championships were held at Hunters Hill Sailing Club over 8-9 March weekend. the weather gods were with us providing 10-13 knot ESE on Saturday and more squirrely and a knot or two more from ENE on Sunday.

The 70+ sailors enjoyed the conditions and avoided close encounters with the ferries and maritime party people and rev-heads. Commodore Ben Howell and the folks at HHSC did a great job on the water, on the launching ramp and in the canteen. Our stalwart RO Andrew McLachlan as always made the best use of the waterway and had the nine races running like clockwork. The incoming tide running against the start meant less airing of the black flag and only a few OCSs.

The event was sailed in three class fleets 25 in each of ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 and 22 ILCA 7s. It was difficult to avoid the tide except on the sides of the Parramatta River and there the wind was less kind so the fleets wisely chose their course to stay on the lifted tack as far as possible.

In the ILCA 6 top local sailor Sylvie Stannage dominated taking four bullets and a second. GM Bruce Savage from MHASC posted a 2,1,1 for a leading position on day one and finished second overall. Bruce was first GM in the Australian Masters at Westernport last month. Third was up and coming RPAYC/DBSC sailor Charlie Byford. Charlie was first Under 19 as well. Another Master GGM Lyndall Patterson RPAYC was 4th overall. First Under 17 was Raphael McLachlan DBSC.

The ILCA 4s went down to the wire. In the last race either of local sailors Harper Spacey HHSC/DBSC or Zac Howell HHSC could have won. In the end they finished even on points with Harper taking the win on a countback. Harper was first Under 18 and Zac was first Under 16. RQYS sailor Blair Dobson was third.

Daniel Costandi GRSC/BDSC was the clear winner in the ILCA 7s counting three bullets and two second places to finish ahead of Thailand Olympic representative Arthit Romanyk and Campbell Patton DBSC/RBYC/RSYS. First Under 21 was new graduate to ILCA 7 Healy Ryan who finished a creditable 5th. 4th and first Master was GM Brett Beyer WSC. Brett won the Oceania & Australian Masters GM in February and is the current World ILCA GM Champion.

Full results are Here.

Lots of photos of the event thanks to HHSC volunteers are Here.

Gusty and tricky winds at the top end of the course

The Metropolitan Championships at Hunters Hill Sailing Club are coming up 8-9 March. This event for all ILCA classes has prizes for Open, Youth and Masters age categories.

HHSC is a great venue with copious rigging area, good sailing water right in front of the club and terrific viewing from Clarkes Point park.

The Notice of Race is Here. You can enter online Here any time or up until 11.30 on 8 March at the club.

Sailing Instructions are Here. Parking, trailer storage, RIB, rigging, club facilities and food information in on the Competitor Information Document Here.

Chris Rodowicz enjoying the downwind ride

The final results for the 2025 Oceania & Australian Masters Championships held at Westernport YC, Victoria are Here.

113 boats lined up for the 2025 Masters at Westernport (27 ILCA 7s, 80 ILCA 6s and 6 ILCA 4s) sailed 21-24 February.

Conditions after Day 1 were excellent to challenging. Day 1 saw no race started with the tide velocity at times exceeding the wind. PRO Col Dods then ran three races per day so 9 of the scheduled 10 races were completed.

There was great racing in all the fleets and some fabulous rides across the reaches and with some decent wind and wave waves down the runs.

Lots of action photos of the event are available to free download thanks to Tom France @thomasfrancephotography.

Saturday Photos

Sunday Photos

 Bruce Paine upwind in waves rather larger than he is used to in Canberra

The fabulous 2025 Women’s Regatta will be held on 22 March at Vaucluse Yacht Club (VYC).

The Regatta is being run by VYC with support from ILCA NSW & ACT and major sponsors Zhik and Performance Sailcraft.

There will be a full day of activities kicking off at 8.30 with yoga on the deck, followed by a breakfast, sailing workshops at 10:00. Racing will be from 13:00 with the prizegiving at 17:30 and concluding with a cocktail reception with a guest panel from 18:00.

The event is open to all women ILCA sailors and there will be prizes for age categories.
This event is run in conjunction with the Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge and the Manly Yacht Club. The Green Fleet will race as a part of the Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge (HHWC) organised by Manly Yacht Club.

Entries Here  are $75 and $50 for U18 and students.

The Notice of Race with all the details is Here.

The Event Web Site is Here.

The next Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships will be held at Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Hobart 1-8 January 2026.

The NoR will be posted soon on the Event Web Site Here.

For sailors planning to tow trailers across then Spirit of Tasmania bookings are open for the period Here.

TAS ILCA is currently in discussion with one of the freight companies transporting across Bass Strait.  If you are planning to to send boats to RYCT by container please advise TasILCA President Edward Fader by the email below of the number and size. He may be able to provide contact and support for making these arrangements.

Sad to report our long term NSW & ACT Laser RO Colin Chidgey passed away on 23 January 2025. Col was a revered figure in the Australian sailing community generally.

As well as being an exceptional race officer, he contributed significantly to clubs and other class associations, holding prominent roles with Yachting NSW and Yachting Australia and was a Commodore and Life Member of Hunters Hill Sailing Club.

Col dedicated countless hours to race management and administration, driven by his passion for sailing, especially junior and youth sailing. He supported numerous events and classes, including Lasers, Manly Juniors, Skiffs, Flying 11s, Sabots, 420s, Optimists, NSW Youth Championships, Sail Sydney, and Teams Racing.

Mentor to many, Col was known for his enthusiasm, fair decision-making, and infectious humour. Coming from his career in Army Engineers he never needed a PA to get his instruction across or leave anyone in doubt about who was in charge.

He will be dearly missed. Condolences to his family, and fair winds to Col.

There is to be a celebration of his life and sailing get together on Friday 21 February between 2-5pm at the Woolwich Pier Hotel, 2 Gale St Woolwich.

The State Masters at South Lake Macquarie ASC was a great event enjoyed by 107 sailors. The weather was great for Masters ILCA sailing with 12-13 knots of generally easterly breezes on both days 1st and 2nd February. Considering the mix ordinary and ornery weather we have been getting this was a blessing. There were plenty of wind shifts across the inner and outer tracks of the course but as always the best sailors managed to find the right way to go.

The event was run with three fleets one ILCA 7 fleet (36 boats), an ILCA 6 “young” fleet with Apprentice, Master and GMs (43 boats) and an ILCA 6 “senior” fleet with GGM and Legends (28 boats).

Under RO Andrew McLachlan’s experienced management and great support from the SLMASC race management team all six scheduled races were completed expeditiously give or take some time for re-orientation of the course on day two as the wind oscillated.

There was a great roll up of NSW sailors in particular 29 from DBSC. The club is highly organised even coming with their own coach and on water support by Zander Bijkerk. There were nine sailors who travelled up from Victoria.

Brett Beyer WSC convincingly won in the ILCA 7 fleet posting a 1,1,2,1,1 and dropping a 6. Matthew Faddy VYC was second and James Tudball third . Brett was first GM and James first Apprentice Master. Chip off the old block Tom Lowndes VYC was fourth and first Master. Leading GGM was strong class enthusiast and supporter Steve Gunther from Royal Brighton YC.

The ILCA 6 “young” fleet was lead convincingly by Bruce Savage MHASC posting 2,1,1,2,3,1. Bruce was first GM. Fellow GM David Early GRSC was second and first Apprentice and first woman cube winner was Vai Ripley. Vai was Samoa’s 2024 Olympic sailor and currently sails at MHASC/WSC. Master cube winner and 4th in the fleet was Scott Hunter DBSC. Second place women’s cube went to top Master Kate McHugh DBSC in a close tussle with Justine Gowland-Ella GSC who won the GMs.

The ILCA 6 “senior” fleet saw a close tussle at the top with Royal Brighton YC sailors Michael O’Brien the fleet and GGM winner on a countback from Jeff Loosemore MHASC. Rick Longbottom CYC/RANSA/GRSC was close in third with a late run first and second in the final two races. Legend cube winner was pocket dynamo Peter Heywood DBSC/BSC/B16. To win the Legends Peter had to finish ahead of 2024 World Masters Legend 2nd and 3rd placed Tim Alexander NSC and Rob Lowndes MHASC.

Thanks to South Lakes ASC and its fabulous volunteers who did a great job on the water and in and around the club. This is a first class venue with lots of parking, rigging space close to the uncrowded Lake Macquarie.

The full results of the event are Here.