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The 2026 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships were very successfully run at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania with racing 3-8 January.

There were over 190 boats competing in the three classes with sailors from all Australian states and from 11 other countries. This was the largest ILCA/Laser Championship ever run in Tasmania and the largest Nationals of any class in Australia this season.

The ILCA 4 and ILCA 6 classes were sailed in two fleets using qualifying and finals series format. The largest class with 77 boats was the fast growing ILCA 4 which sailed on its own course area. Again this year there were more girls than boys in the ILCA 4. The two ILCA 6 and one ILCA 7 fleets sailed in the second course area.

The sailing conditions for the event varied from light and variable to moderate sea breeze with some full on breeze races thrown in for good measure. PRO Colin Dods and the two CROs managed to complete all 12 races two per day as scheduled though one day was a super long one allowed by the sunset in Hobart being at 2100. There is a perspective on the event by ILCA 6 sailor Charlie Byford Here which details the variable conditions experienced in the event.

As always the racing was close and competitive especially in the ILCA 4 class where the quality and skill exhibited by the young sailors was exceptional. In the LCA 4s Thomas Cooper WA RFBYC/FSC and Callum Simmons Vic SSCBC/IHYC went head to head. By winning the last race Thomas took first place on a countback. Thomas was also first U18. Callum was also runner up in this event in 2025 in Queensland. Third was RQYS sailor Harry “Houdini” Hogan. First female also from RQYS was Ruby Carter. First U16 was Seth Till FSC/SoPYC WA.

In the ILCA 6 the women filled nine of the top ten places with the two Olympians Emma Plasschaert from Belgium and Hungarian Maria Erdi going head to head finishing in that order. Third placed and first Australian was Paris Olympian sailor Zoe Thomson RFBYC from WA. 5th placed Jasper Stay also from RFBYC was the first male and the first U19. First U17 was Jackson Black from RQYS.

Recently returned to competitive ILCA sailing Matt Wearn RPYC showed he has lost none of his form. He was dominant in the ILCA 7s winning six races and winning without needing to sail in the final race. Fellow WA sailors Zac Littlewood RFBYC and Ethan McAullay RPYC filled the other podium places with Zac winning three races. First U19 was Australia’s World Sailing World Youth Championship sailor Healy Ryan DBSC NSW. First U21 was New Zealander Zach Stibbe OYC.

The full results for the event are Here.

It must be something in the water in WA as five of the top ten ILCA 7 places were filled by WA sailors and they comfortably won the Battens Trophy for the best performing state over all classes at the Nationals.

A very large team of volunteers worked under the able direction of ILCA Tasmania President Ed Fader to make this event run smoothly. Congratulations to ILCA Tasmania and RYCT for running this event for us and thanks to the 14 sponsors for making it all possible.

The 2027 event will be held at Sandringham YC Vic 1-8 January 2027 which will be followed at the same club by the ILCA U21 World Championship 10-17 January.

ILCA has announced that 2026 ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 World Masters will not be held in Skiathos, Greece due to the termination of the contract by the Club.

These evens will proceed three days earlier than originally scheduled at a new venue Nautical Club of Kalamaki, Athens, Greece.

Entries remain open for ILCA 6 until 2 February Here and ILCA 7 until 11 February Here. New ILCA 6 NoR is Here and ILCA 7 Here.

The ranking event for these World Masters Championships is the 2026 Australia Masters at Port Stephens 6-9 February. NoR for this event is Here and entries can be placed Here.

Newly elected ILCA President Mark Lyttle has posted a message outlining the state of the ILCA nation which you can see Here.

Mark has covered the substantial issues and upcoming changes for the class including.

• Off the shelf equal performance boats and equipment from now 10 world builders
• New focus and resource for class promotion and communications
• Steady 13,000 ILCA membership with Youth & Masters World Championships having over 400 sailors
• New ILCA4 and post LA Olympics ILCA6 sail for improved longevity
• Possible adoption of new World Sailing event format and OCS technology for Senior ILCA World Championships
• Creation of an World Council advisory athlete panel for input of elite sailor views to decision makers
• President vice President and some region World Council representatives have changed
• ILCA are seeking a volunteer treasurer to replace greatly successful and now retiring New Zealander Nick Page

The governing body ILCA World Council WC comprises 9 voting and 4 non voting members. The current WC members are listed Here.

The Annual General Meeting of ILCA Australia Inc, will be held from 0900 AEDT on 5 January at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.

The agenda and reports to the meeting are posted Here. Documentation from all recent AGMs are on our AGMs Page

Our ILCA Oceania Inc. organisation AGM will be held on 5 January from 0830 AEDT at the same venue. Agenda and reports for this meeting are Here.

Come along and have your say on the nuts and bolts issues of ILCA sailing in our bit of the world.

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.

Full results are at Here.

Ninth placed Casey Imeneo in finals action at Sail Melbourne – Australian Sailing photo

Long Term Laser/ILCA Sailor Mark Lyttle – Photo from Afloat

Mark Lyttle was elected ILCA President at the ILCA AGM in Beijing last weekend. He replaces long term President San Franciscan Tracy Usher. Tracy steered ILCA through several stormy seas in his term and he has been elected to the ILCA Hall of Fame  for his years of service.

Mark Lyttle originally from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland began sailing Lasers in 1977 and represented Ireland at the 1996 Olympic Games. He was World Grand Masters Champion in 2018.

Following his election in his President’s Message #1 Mark said “As President, I would like to lead a World Council that listens to our community, is open and responsive and works together to promote our class and the sport as a whole.” He said that he will publish a report in December outlining the AGM outcomes, initiatives and priorities for the year ahead.

ILCA Oceania 2025 Solidarity Squad at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

ILCA Oceania is delighted to announce the following sailors have been selected by their district as Solidarity representatives for 2026.

This is the fourth year for our Solidarity event & will held in Hobart at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT). See event website here:

https://ryct.org.au/2026-ilca-oceania-australian-championship/

Solidarity is about encouraging young female sailors (age between 13 & 16 yrs) to participate in a world class sailing championship. It is not about winning; the hope is that this experience will ignite a passion for the sport & that they will return to their clubs as enthusiastic ambassadors.

We know from feedback that most of the previous groups are still engaged with the ILCA’s. Some have transitioned to the ILCA 6, and most have participated in subsequent State & National events.

The participants receive a free entry to the championship & social events. Charter boats & coaching are also provided. The girls will be supported by a dedicated coach who will provide on water coaching plus briefings ashore. This year’s event is sponsored by Performance Sailcraft & we are delighted to have the support of Australian Sailing who are providing the coach.

AusILCA Solidarity Director John d’Helin said “My thanks to the ILCA districts for supporting Solidarity 2026 & running the selection and I hope the girls have a great time & make some new sailing friends.”

The sailing stories of two of the selected sailors Kiera Dimock from New Zealand and Kate Edwards from Victoria are linked.