Zac Littlewood a very good silver medalist in Melbourne – Australian Sailing photo
Sail Melbourne saw 272 boats from 15 countries compete in 18 classes on five courses off Royal Brighton Yacht Club 27-30 November 2025.
There were 28 ILCA7s, 54 ILCA6s and 30 ILCA4s competing with sailors from 12 countries.
The ILCA6s and 7s used the new Olympic format and scoring with a 9 race qualifying series over the first three days and a 2 race finals series on the final day for the top 10 qualifiers. The points in the new Olympic system are described in the event SIs Addendum. The aim is to allow any sailor who qualifies in the top 10 to possibly win a medal in the finals series.
As is often the case on Port Philip the weather was quite variable both in qualifying with strong winds on two days and quite light on the other. The wind in the finals series was described as “super” – super light in the first race and super heavy in the second.
Matt Wearn recently returned to ILCA sailing showed that he has lost none of his form winning 6 of the 9 qualifying races and one of the finals. Zac Littlewood won 3 races in taking second from Ireland’s Finn Lynch.
Making it a family affair Emma Plasschaert won in the hot ILCA6 fleet with a 1,3 in the finals series to pip USA’s Charlotte Rose who lead the qualifying series and Hungarian Olympic sailor Maria Erdi.
Ninth placed Casey Imeneo in finals action at Sail Melbourne – Australian Sailing photo