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2026 ILCA Oceania Solidarity Program

Solidarity Sailors With Support Team and Major Sponsor PSA’s Chair Nick Ogden

The 2026 ILCA Oceania Solidarity Program was very successfully run at the Oceania & Australian Championships at RYCT in Hobart 1-8 January.

The program conceived and managed by ILCA Australia Vice President John D’Helin is supported by local ILCA builder PSA an ILCA Oceania grant and Australian Sailing. It aims to encourage female sailors aged 13 to 16 to participate in a top-tier sailing championship, igniting their passion for the sport. Participants receive free entry to the championship, access to a charter boat, and on-water coaching.

The eight selected sailors from each state and New Zealand comprise Harper Spacey (NSW), Keira Dimock and Ellie Tapper (NZ), Matilda Tarring (QLD), Zahli Smith (SA), Cordelia Davey (TAS), Kate Edwards (VIC), and Seraphina Townson (WA). They were supported by AS coach Indy Cooper.

2026 World Masters Venue Now Kalamaki, Athens

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.

World Sailing Youth Worlds Vilamoura Portugal

Congratulations to Healy Ryan DBSC and Caterina Meyer RQYS who represented Australian in the 2025 World Sailing World Youth Championships at Vilamoura, Portugal from 12-20 December.

Conditions were fruity at times as the Reels Video Here shows.

In the hot fleets comprising the best Under 18 ILCA sailors in the world Healy finished 7th in the 57 ILCA6 boys fleet and Caterina 20th in the ILCA6 girls. Full results are Here.

Some difficult conditions in Vilamoura WS Youth Worlds – No Australians are featured in this WS photo

ILCA President’s Class Update Message

 

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.

Late Entries 2026 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships

Late entries are now being accepted for the Oceania and 2026 Australian Open & Youth Championships in Hobart.

These entries can be placed at https://www.revolutionise.com.au/tdla/events/register/283720

With over 180 entries so far a very strong line up of top international and Australian Sailing Team ILCA sailors is lining up for this event. To see who has entered click Who’s going box Here .

The event web site for competitors and supporters to follow the event is https://ryct.org.au/2026-ilca-oceania-australian-championship/

ILCA Australia AGM 5 January in Hobart

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.

Sailors Selected for World Sailing Youth Worlds

Congratulation to Caterina Meyer RQYS and Healy Ryan DBSC who have been selected by Australian Sailing (AS) to represent Australia in the 2025 World Sailing World Youth Championships at Vilamoura, Portugal from 12-20 December.

Caterina and Healy will be sailing ILCA 6s as members of the 15 sailor Australian team with 2 coaches and 2 AS support staff. Other classes in the event are iQFOIL, Formula Kite, 29er, 420 and NACRA 15. See the Australian Sailing post for more information .  This year AS resumed nominating and partly financially supporting sailors for this event.

Up to 450 youth sailors from 70 countries are expected to compete in Vilamoura.

We wish the Australian team fair winds and good sailing.

Evenet results are on World Sailing web site Here.

2025 WS World Youth Australian Contingent_750

 

Sail Melbourne 2025 Royal Brighton YC

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

Upcoming ILCA World Championships Venues and Ranking

 

The ILCA World Championships web page now has most 2026, 2027 and 2028 Worlds events listed.

The corresponding Australian ranking events for these limited entry championships are listed on our ilca.au Worlds Ranking Page .

ILCA have opened entries Here  for 2026 ILCA 6 World Masters 2-10 June. ILCA 7 Masters 11-19 June entries will open on 13 December. The events will both be run in in Skiathos, Greece and each have an entry limit of 240.

The 2027 World Masters events will be held in Vilamoura, Portugal and 2028 in Tangier, Morocco.

Mark Lyttle Elected ILCA President

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.

Selection for 2026 World Sailing Youth World Championships 

From 2026 Australian Sailing (AS) will use the preceding ILCA Australian Open and Youth Championships as the selection event for one female and one male ILCA6 sailor aged under 19 years on 31 December for the World Sailing Youth World Championships (WSWYC). For 2026 the Australian Open & Youth Championships in Hobart will be the AS selection event for WSWYC in Vilamoura, Portugal from 11–19 December 2026.

AS has information on their WSWYC Selection Guidelines Here and has an Expression of Interest Form Here which must submitted by 1 January. The AS World Youth Web Site is Here.

As usual the 2026 Australian Open and Youth Championships will be the Ranking Event for all 2026 ILCA World Open and Youth Championships but also due to its timing (early in the year) it is also the ranking event for the 2027 ILCA Under 21 World Championships in Sandringham. There was a post in June covering this here.

2026 Solidarity Squad Announced.

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.

District Name Club
NSW&ACT Harper Spacey Double Bay SC, Hunters Hill SC
NZ Keira Dimock MBSC Auckland
NZ Ellie Tapper Marakura YC, Te Anau
Qld Matilda Tarring Keppel Bay SC
SA Zahli Smith Brighton & Seacliff YC
Tas Cordelia Davey Royal YC Tasmania
Vic Kate Edwards Mornington YC
WA Seraphina Townson RFBYC, Freemantle SC
Coach Indy Cooper Australian Sailing

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.

PSA Interim Class Builder Re-Approval

Production underway in PSA’s new factory in Morisset NSW

In the New Zealand High Court case, Performance Sailcraft Australia (PSA) sought and was granted an interim injunction against the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) after ILCA terminated PSA’s builder agreement. The 30 October court order prevents ILCA from implementing the termination and requires it to reinstate PSA as an approved builder while the underlying contract dispute is resolved.

The case concerns a disagreement over new moulds supplied by ILCA that PSA claims are inconsistent with the one-design principle, though the final decision has not yet been made.

The matter will proceed toward a final decision by the court, and PSA will continue as an approved builder in the interim. ILCA’s confirmation of this is here. There is more information on the subject Here.

Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships

The 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship Notice of Race and Online Entry links are posted on the Event Page below:

2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship – Event Page

The Event Page also has charter boat contacts, transport and accommodation information, coach, and support boat registration.

In particular sailors and teams who wish to use Spirit of Tasmania should consider booking early Here for greater choice of sailings.

This event will be the ranking event for entry to all 2026 ILCA World Open and Youth Championships except for the 2026 Under 21 Worlds Lanzarote, Spain (17-24 Jan 2025). Full details of ILCA Australia ranking for ILCA World Championships is on AusILCA web site Here.

Along with the nationals, RYCT have their pre-Christmas Showdown regatta that sailors may be interested in. The NoR for this event is Here.

Tas ILCA and RYCT are looking forward to welcoming all down to Hobart for these Championships.

Matt Wearn Eyes History with LA 2028 Comeback

Australia’s double Olympic champion Matt Wearn is back in his ILCA7 dinghy — and chasing history. After a 15-month break from competition, he has launched his campaign toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where he hopes to become the first sailor to win three consecutive gold medals in the Men’s Dinghy event.

Matt now aged 30, knows the pressure of defending gold — he’s done it once already. After his Tokyo triumph, his Paris Olympic campaign was far from smooth. A shortened Olympic cycle and a long battle with COVID forced him to fight against time and fitness. The break that followed, he says, was essential — a chance to reset, ride bikes, coach younger sailors, and rediscover the joy of being on the water.

Now refreshed, Matt returns to an Australian ILCA7 fleet that’s as competitive as ever. Rising talents like Zac Littlewood and Ethan McAullay are keeping the pressure on, and he welcomes it. “That internal competition has always made us stronger,” he said.

This time around, Matt’s approach is about balance — “quality over quantity” — and he’ll share the Olympic journey with his wife, Belgian ILCA6 star Emma Plasschaert, as they both target LA 2028.

Matt’s comeback begins at Sail Melbourne 27-30 November at Royal Brighton YC, followed by the Australian ILCA Nationals 1-8 January at Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart. With renewed focus and history within reach, he’s ready to chase a place among sailing’s greats once again.

Full story is on Scuttlebutt Here

2025 World Masters Formia, Italy

Smiling Winners at Formia, Italy 2025 World Masters

Well done all the 50 Australian masters sailors competing in the 2025 World Masters in Formia,Italy.

The event overall attracted 455 entries from 38 countries. Conditions were mostly light with some winds up to 13 knots late in the day. No racing was possible on two days but in the end all 12 races were completed for most fleets. The winds rotated right through the day making the sailor’s and officials tasks tricky.

Although there is no country ranking we are claiming a win for Australia with four first place cubes awarded to Brett Beyer ILCA 7 First GM, Christine Bridge ILCA 6 GM First Woman, Lyndall Patterson ILCA 6 GGM First Woman, Rob Lowndes ILCA 6 First Legend. None of the other competing countries had as many first place winners.

Full results for the event are at Sailwave results for 2025 ILCA 6 & ILCA 7 Masters World Championships at Formia, ITALY · 19 – 28 September 2025<br>Circolo Nautico Caposele 2025

The Event Web Site with links to photos, media and information is at 2025 ILCA Masters ITA – ILCA Worlds website