The 2023 Oceania & Australian Laser Open & Youth Championships was sailed on Botany Bay from Georges River Sailing Club. These championships were completed on Sunday 8th January.

The 180-boat event was sailed in four fleets with three ILCA class rigs. There were 150 Australian and 30 international sailors from 12 countries competing.

Sailing was scheduled between 3rd and 8th January however on days 3 & 4 (5-6 January) with the wind at 27 gusting to 35 knots no sailing was possible . Two race per day were sailed on days 1 and 2 in very good conditions followed by three races on day 5 in testing 18-20 knot southerly winds while the final three races on day 6 were sailed in ideal 15 knot southerly conditions.

The 83 boat ILCA 6 gold fleet saw some great racing with the last race determining the top four places. These were contested between Tokyo 2020 Olympic Women’s ILCA Laser sailors from Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and Australia. Emma Plaschaert from Belgium finished second in the final race to take a narrow win from Maud Jaynet (SUI) and Maria Erdi (HUN). Maria just pipped Queenslander Mara Stransky by a single point. Mara Stransky was the Australian Womens champion and the overall Australian Champion. Mara is the first female since Sarah Blanck in 2008 to win the open ILCA 6/Laser Radial title. Casey Imeneo from Victoria topped some consistent results with two wins on the last day to finish fifth overall.

The under 19 ILCA 6 division was won by Australian Sailing Youth Sailor of the Year and silver medallist in the World Sailing Youth Championships Evie Saunders from Manly Yacht Club in NSW.

The ILCA 7 fleet was hotly contested with four Australians, four from Great Britain and two from New Zealand finishing in the top ten.

In a drama packed final race Michael Beckett (GBR) needed to win to take the title after Australia’s Matt Wearn had some issues and was a DNF. Michael finished second and so Matt Wearn won his fifth Australian Laser/ILCA Championship on a close countback. Elliot Hanson (GBR) was third in front of popular WA sailor Swifto Elliott and leading Kiwi George Gautrey.

The leading youth sailors (under 21) was Stefan Elliott-Shircore from Western Australia.

The ILCA 4 (aka Laser 4.7) fleet of 55 boats consisted of up-and-coming youth sailors under 18 and under 16 years of age. The first three placegetters were young sailors from Victoria. Aidan Simmons and Angus McIntyre both won four of the ten heats, with Aidan the overall ILCA 4 champion by two points. Riley Cantwell finished third overall and was the under 16 junior ILCA 4 champion. It was pleasing to see 40% of the ILCA 4 fleet were women and the first woman Sara Bruce from DBSC and RSYS was 4th overall.

 

Based on strong performances particularly in the ILCA 4 fleet the Battens Trophy for the best performed State went to Victoria. Victoria showed the benefit of strong state training programs and racing in ILCA 4 and the feed in junior classes, in particular the Optimist class.

Full results can be found Here and on mobile devices using the free Australian Laser App under the National & District Events tab.

The next ILCA class National & Oceania Championship will be for masters sailors at Port Stephens, Australia on 10-13 March 2023 were nearly 200 boats are expected to compete.

The next Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships will be at Adelaide Sailing Club 1-8 January 2024. There is a 4 minute promotion video for the 2024 Adelaide event and the following ILCA 7 and ILCA Masters World Championship events on YouTube Here.

After run of great weather including for the Practice Race and Race Days 1 & 2 Huey has turned on a nasty spell (5 & 6 January) of wet and excessively windy days so no safe, fair racing has been possible.

The women are dominating the ILCA 6s holding the top six places. With no racing on the third scheduled day of racing the ILCA 6 qualifying series is concluded and a drop is included to determine the split into the Gold and Silver fleets for the Final Series. Results for the Qualifying Series are Here.

There is just one point between the top four so it is all in play for once the weather allows the Final Series to proceed.

In the ILCA 7s team GBR has four of the top six places however Olympic Champion Matt Wearn is three points clear at the top. Racing has been very close and the series is still wide open. Results to Race 4 in the ILCA 7s are Here.

In the 55 boat ILCA 4 fleet Team Victoria of Aidan Simmons, Angus McIntyre and Riley Cantwell is dominating taking pretty much all the podium places in each race. Full results are Here.

The Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships get underway 1-8 January at Georges River Sailing Club. There will be practice race on 2 January with the more serious business starting on 3 January with two races per day over six days.

There will be a hot fleet of 180 boats racing in four fleets in ILCA 4, 6 and 7s. The Australian Sailing Team and top level sailors from all Australian states and territories will compete along with sailors from the Pacific, Asia and Europe. 13 countries in all will be represented. Late entries can still be placed.

This event web site will have information, race documents and results. Otherwise the series can be followed using the Australian Laser App which is a free download from the App Store and Play Store at the links below.

iOS Apple App Store           Android Google Play Store

Links to event information & documents are below.

• Notice of Race
• Event Program
• Late Entry ($430 including late entry fee)
• Measurement Arrangements
• Measurement Booking
• Coach Boat Information
• Coach Boat Registration
• Sailing Instructions
• Club & Venue Information
• Results
• Welcome Message
• Honour Roll – Past Winners

35 sailors enjoyed great conditions at Double Bay Sailing Club on Saturday 3 December for the Women’s Regatta.

It wasn’t all about racing however there were some competitive sailors and some ILCA 4s and 6s on the water so some racing was a natural part. The racing results are Here.

There is more on this event on the DBSC site Here.

Jon West was on the water to cover the event. His photos can be seen and purchased from his web site Here.

The normal entry for the Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships Here has been extended for one week to midnight on 7th December. After this time entry may be available with an additional $80 late fee.

There is a great line up of local and international sailors entered for the event which you can see by clicking through the entry link

The 2022 Australian Sailing Awards – which recognised and celebrated distinguished members of the Australian Sailing community – took place on Friday 4th November at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Australian ILCA 6 Olympian Mara Stransky who is currently third in the ILCA 6 World Rankings won Female Sailor of the Year.

Leading up to her win Mara has had a great year winning the prestigious Kiel Week Regatta along with top-10 finishes at the World Championships, Hyeres Olympic Week and Allianz World Cup Almere regattas.

Evie Saunders was announced as Youth Sailor of the Year.

In presenting her this award, Australian Sailing said, “Evie Saunders is an up-and-coming ILCA 6 sailor with a proven track record amongst world class fleets. She set herself apart this season by securing the silver medal at the ISAF Youth World Championships at The Hague, making her the first Australian girl in 14 years to medal in the Laser class at the Youth World Championships.”

After 10 scheduled races over five days the 2022 European Masters Championships have just wound up in L’Escala, Spain. The 10 race series over 5 days saw 256 sailors in 13 categories competing in light to medium winds.

EurILCA was kind to invite our small travelling band of Masters Sailors to compete even though their series was pretty much fully subscribed.

Current World GGM Champion Jeff Loosemore comfortably won the ILCA 6 GGM gold medal while Peter Heywood won the Legends. We are hoping EurILCA will invite us again next year.

The Event Web Site is Here and the full results are Here.

Registration is now open Here  for The Women’s Regatta which will be held on Saturday 3 December 2022 at Double Bay Sailing Club.

The one day event is open to women sailors around Australia. It will include races on Sydney Harbour, great food, entertainment, and activities aimed at women of all ages who currently sail an ILCA / Laser dinghy, or are looking to return to racing.

Double Bay Sailing Club will also run a series of small-group training clinics in the weeks leading up to the event, focusing on improving sailing skills such as race starts, upwind technique, and downwind technique.

For more information go to the Double Bay sailing Club web site page Here.