ILCA NSW & ACT

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.

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.

The 2025 ILCA Oceania Youth Solidarity Program applications will close on 1 October 2024.

John d’Helin the Program Director promises the program will be better than ever with support now added from Australian Sailing for the coach and coach boat.

The program objective is to actively promote the ILCA 4 class to clubs as the logical transition class for junior and youth sailors. ILCA Oceania aims to grow participation in the ILCA 4 class at the Oceania & Australian Open and Youth ILCA Championships and in ILCA sponsored youth regattas.

Each ILCA Oceania and Australian District will select one youth female sailor, who will receive the benefit of the following support at the 2025 Oceania & Australian Open and Youth ILCA Championships to be held from 1-8 January 2024 at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Brisbane, Queensland.

• Free event and functions entry.
• An ILCA 4 charter boat in race condition.
• Squad coaching during the regatta.
• Youth Solidarity program merchandise.

Applicants must be;
• A citizen of an Oceania country.
• A member of an ILCA District.
• A ILCA 4 female sailor aged 13-16 years as at 1 January 2025 with a minimum body weight of 50kg.

Applications are open here These must be completed on or before 1 October 2024. The selected applicants (one per district) will be chosen by their ILCA district. Selections will be announced in mid October .

More information including the selection criteria is here.

See YouTube videos from 2023 Solidarity participant Maddy English and Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron sailor Abby Young who participated in 2024 in South Australia.

After a frustrating few days of light winds in Marseille in the Men’s Dinghy Matt Wearn went into the delayed medal race carrying a 14-point advantage over Cyprus’ Pavlos Kontides. Pavlos was the only sailor who could overtake him for gold.

At first, Matt attempted to match race the Pavlos until the opening attempt at the Medal Race was abandoned. In the second instalment, Matt decided to go all out and stormed to victory with Pavlos second. Peruvian Stefano Peschiera who gained his starting place through World Sailing’s Emerging Nations Program had a great regatta winning bronze after some hard fought medal race duelling with GBR’s Michael Beckett. Stefano’s medal was Peru’s first Olympic medal in 32 years.
Matt’s result means Australia has now won the last four Men’s Dinghy Olympic gold medals, beginning with Tom Slingsby in London and continuing with Tom Burton in Rio and Matt in Tokyo and Paris. Pavlos Kontides, was in his fifth Olympic Games, and this was his second silver medal. He was runner up to Tom Slingsby in London 2012.

Straight after the event Matt said: “It’s been quite hard to deal with the waiting at times, luckily we didn’t have to wait for another day and now we can celebrate and have some fun. My parents have helped me all the way. There have been times when I haven’t enjoyed the sport as much, but they’ve really helped, they’re incredible parents.

“The expectation has been tougher this time, being the reigning champion and winning the last two World Championships. I had that target on my back and that was new and different.”

Netherland’s Marit Bouwmeester had already wrapped up the Women’s Dinghy gold medal before the medal race. She finished in the top five on seven occasions during the Opening Series, but persistent light wind meant she had to wait an extra day before getting her long-awaited prize.

By winning gold, Bouwmeester became the most successful female Olympic sailor ever, overtaking Great Britain’s two-time Olympic champion Hannah Mills in the process. She has now won two golds in Paris and Rio, a silver in London and a bronze in Tokyo.

Anne-Marie Rindom was unable to defend her Olympic title from Tokyo but settled for a super silver, which she also had wrapped up prior to the Medal Race, in which she finished fifth.

The only medal up for grabs heading into the Medal Race was the bronze and it was Line Flem Hoest’s to lose. The Norwegian went into the finale sitting in third and held on to that spot, crossing the finish line in second behind Italy’s Chiara Benini Floriani to take home a bronze medal.

Marit Bouwmeester said: “In the build-up to the Medal Race I tried to stay focused, but I’m also a mum as well so I had to be there for Jessie Mae. I’ve been with her a lot, putting her to bed and being there when she wakes up. It’s nice to finally finish it off, it hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I think sometimes at the Olympics you can get too serious too quickly, so it’s nice to have a distraction with Jessie Mae. Then you also have the lack of sleep and the loss of energy, but I’m grateful to be a mum and an athlete.”

Final Results

Event Website

The 2025 ILCA Oceania Youth Solidarity Program has launched.

John d’Helin the Program Director promises the program will be better than ever with support now added from Australian Sailing for the coach and coach boat.

The program objective is to actively promote the ILCA 4 class to clubs as the logical transition class for junior and youth sailors. ILCA Oceania aims to grow participation in the ILCA 4 class at the Oceania & Australian Open and Youth ILCA Championships and in ILCA sponsored youth regattas.

Each ILCA Oceania and Australian District will select one youth female sailor, who will receive the benefit of the following support at the 2025 Oceania & Australian Open and Youth ILCA Championships to be held from 1-8 January 2024 at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Brisbane, Queensland.

• Free event and functions entry.
• An ILCA 4 charter boat in race condition.
• Squad coaching during the regatta.
• Youth Solidarity program merchandise.

Applicants must be;
• A citizen of an Oceania country.
• A member of an ILCA District.
• A ILCA 4 female sailor aged 13-16 years as at 1 January 2025 with a minimum body weight of 50kg.

Applications are open here These must be completed on or before 1 October 2024. The selected applicants (one per district) will be chosen by their ILCA district. Selections will be announced in mid October .

More information including the selection criteria is here.

Olympic Sailing schedule is detailed by Sailor Girl Nic Douglass on her web site Here.

Three ways to follow the Paris Olympics action.

9HD or 9GemHD TV channels. Free to Air (advertising supported). Selected and highlight sports 24 hours a day.

9Now App TV, streaming devices, PC via browser, Android or Apple mobile or tablet. See here. Over 40 channels plus replays, highlights “minis” and event guides live and free (advertising supported).

Stan Sport App, TV, streaming devices, PCs, Android and Apple mobile or tablet. See here. 8 individual sport channels advertising free live and on demand. See here. Stan subscription is $16 per month plus $15 for sport.

The Australian Sailing Team social media accounts will be the place to go to follow everything happening with the Aussie sailors in Marseilles.

• X @AusSailingTeam
• Facebook @Australian Sailing Team
• Instagram @AusSailingTeam

The 2024 ILCA Under 21 World Championships have concluded  in the Atlantic Ocean waters off the historic city of  Viana do Castelo, Portugal which traces its history back to 1258.. The event ran from July 1st to 8th and was blessed with great sailing conditions. All 12 races were held as scheduled.

There were 13 Australian sailors Frances Beebe. Lili Mcaullay, Ellen Sampson, Evie Saunders, Jack Eickmeyer, Tom Holmes, Lawson Mcaullay, Edward Reid, Isaac Schotte, Max Sturman, Julian Taylor, Lachie Weber and Myles Wilson competing alongside 235 sailors (80 women and 155 men) from 41 countries.

The Australian sailors all put in strong performances with Evie Saunders leading the charge finishing second in the ILCA 6 to Ireland’s Eve McMahon who was dominant posting four wins for a 30 point winning margin.

In the ILCA 7s Theodor Middelthon from Norway had a comfortable win. Isaac Schotte was running 4th mid series but faded in the last days to finish 10th with Edward  Reid 12th and Jack Eickmeyer 13th. Well done all in a hot fleet.

Event links are.

Results
Event Photos
Event Videos 
Event Website
ILCA Facebook

In place of the South Pacific Masters this year ILCA Queensland & RQYS are running an open event the Queensland Winter ILCA Regatta 13-14 July.

Local and pretty good Masters sailor Andrew Stransky has written the invitation below to all ILCA sailors and wannabees to come and enjoy the relatively mild Queensland winter.

Blow away those winter chills, dust off your trusty ILCA dinghy and set your sights on the Queensland Winter ILCA Regatta! Muster your energy and join the age old tradition of competing in the world’s most popular dinghy class.

Racing among friends, the thrilling competition is always tight, regardless of where you are in the flight. Tone up those begging muscles in this 2 day, 5 race series, all for a paltry $50 entry fee, a bargain for the taking.

NOR, information and Entry are at https://www.rqys.com.au/qwir/

This is you chance to avoid the frigid south for at least one weekend.

Equipment Checks at ILCA 4 Worlds Portugal

The ILCA 4 World Championship 2024, the largest junior sailing event in the world, is being held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal from 23rd to 30th June 2024. There are 51 countries being represented by 427 sailors, 108 coaches, and over 900 supporters.

Viana do Castelo is bursting with smiling faces from around the world, walking around the city, enjoying the local cuisine and the amazing weather at this time of the year.

There are six Australian sailors competing Olivia Aitken, Addison Heatley, Caterina Meyer, Molly Schotte, Henry Piggott and Jasper Stay. We wish them all good luck and good sailing.

The Event Website is Here.
Results are Here.

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 30 November $450 can be placed Here.

The Regatta Competitor Page with links to race documents, entry, venue information and WhatsApp Chat Group for notifications of new information is Here.

Charters may be available from NB Sailsports and Performance Sailcraft Australia.

This event is the qualifying event for Australian sailors applying for entry to any 2025 ILCA World Open and Youth Championships.

Following on from the changes in ILCA boats & equipment supply with now nine approved licensed builders around the world  we are advised that PSA has reviewed its operations here and plans to move to a smaller factory where they will deploy new world standard moulds and hull/deck joining jig.

In the interim they are still building boats and supplying equipment from their Fountaindale NSW site but have reduced staff and staffing to three days per week.

PSA say they are looking forward to the future in their overhead reduced form.

Qualification for 2024 Olympics Sailing is now finalised with 330 sailors from 66 Olympic nations set to compete in 252 boats spread across the 10 Olympic sailing events in Marseilles starting on 26th July. The nations set to compete and how they qualified are tabulated in a detailed Wiki here. There is a post on the ILCA web site on ILCAs in the Olympics which describes the qualification process and some of the history.

Australia will compete in 9 of the 10 events (missing out in the Men’s Kites). In the ILCAs Zoe Thomson and Matt Wearn have been selected as reported Here.  In the ILCAs from our Oceania Region four nations Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa each have qualified and will send sailors in both ILCA 6 and 7.

It is a great honour to be chosen to represent your country in an Olympics and we wish the sailors and their support teams all the best for their events. Behind their success all these sailors have coach and sport professionals and especially supportive families to sustain, motivate and improve them. We thank them one and all.

One special Oceania qualification we would like to highlight is that of Samoa in the ILCA 6. There Vaimo’oi’a (Vai) Ripley achieved her lifelong ambition of competing in the Olympics. Via won one of two of the IOC’s Universality Places which are a lifeline to athletes from underrepresented Olympics nations.

Vai has been sailing and training at Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club in Sydney while competing in all the ILCA local and many international events and fully deserves her coveted place. There is a great post on MHASC web site Here on Vai’s quest.

Need a charter boat for Nationals in Brisbane or Sail Sydney or Melbourne then PSA has offers on their web site.

Charter Offers Here
Phone: 02 9371 7475
Mobile: 0432 823 872
Email: info@nbsailsports.com.au

Zoe Thomson has been selected by Australian Sailing to represent in the ILCA 6 in Paris Olympics with sailing between 28 July and 8 August in Marseilles. Matt Wearn was announced as the Australian representative in the ILCA 7 in February.

Zoe’s selection followed her great 2nd place in the Princesa Sofia World Cup Series Regatta in Palma Mallorca. Mara Stransky was leading early on in the Mallorca event and finished 9th after a UFD and 34 in the final two fleet races. It must have been a tough decision for AS to make however great that we have such great strength in the ILCA Australian Sailing Teams.

In Olympics speak the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7s are the “equipment” for the events termed respectively Women & Men’s Dinghy.

The Australian Olympic sailing representatives  now total 12.

Australian Olympic Team manager “Chef de Mission” Anna Meares congratulated the athletes on their selection. ‘‘ Their passion, commitment and talent have got them to this point,’’ Meares said. ‘‘ I have no doubt they will make Australia proud.’’