ILCA has introduced the OSEPODS (Off-the-Shelf, Equal-Performance, One-Design Sailboat) concept which encompasses the core values that have made ILCA the world’s most popular youth and adult sailing class, ensuring fairness, accessibility, and a focus on skill and strategy.
 

The OSEPODS concept ensures that ILCA sailors compete on a level playing field where success is determined by skill rather than boat modifications.
 

At the heart of OSEPODS is the principle that ILCA sailboats are readily available and ready to race “off the shelf.” When a sailor purchases an ILCA boat, there is no need for modifications or “hot rodding” to make it competitive. This accessibility means that sailors at all levels, from Olympic athletes to masters to youth and club racers, have access to the same equipment.
 

All ILCA dinghies are manufactured to the same high standards. There are no custom-designed or made-to-order ILCA dinghies, so a boat from one ILCA builder will be identical to boats from any ILCA builder. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a newcomer to the sport, ILCA provides a level playing field where success is determined by skill rather than boat modifications.
 

Find out more about OSEPODS and the seven person ILCA technical team driving it in the ILCA web post Here.
 

The Queensland Laser Association’s South Pacific Laser Masters is always a great event. This year was no exception with the event run 7-10 July attracting 57 entries including visiting sailors from NZ, Vic, NSW and Samoa. The sailors all enjoyed the great sailing water at Morton Bay and the fabulous facilities of the RQYS at Manly.
 

Conditions were typical for a winter regatta with crisp sunny winter skies. Day 1 Friday opened with a bang as a fresh westerly gusting to 27 knots provided exhilarating rides downwind and significant damage to numerous boats and a number of skippers.
 

Lighter and more challenging conditions followed on Saturday while Sunday provided near-perfect sailing conditions with a variable 10 to 15 knot westerly. Monday dawned with clear blue skies and a light westerly that faded to a picturesque glass out.
 

The ILCA 6 fleet of 37 boats was of very high quality with three world masters champions competing. Nevertheless it was dominated by RQYS Apprentice Ben Franklin who had a clean scorecard apart from a start line indiscretion costing him maximum points.

It was a very close battle behind Ben for the next three places. In the end it was current World GGM Champion Jeff Loosemore from MHASC Sydney in second overall and only one point ahead of BSS coach Dan Blight.
 

In the 18 boat ILCA 7 fleet local RQYS GM Andrew Stransky claimed a narrow win over highly ranked Master Matt Faddy VYC NSW followed by QLA president Michael Wilson who was the 1st GGM.
 

Regatta sponsors NB Sailsports continued their generous support and all competitors were in with a chance to win some of the over $1500 worth of ICA gear including a new sail and other ILCA gear.
 

The full write up of the event is Here and all the results are Here.
 

There is some good footage of Day 1 sailing on the YouTube video Here.
 

Team AUS at ILCA 6 Youth Worlds – Photo Marek Wilczek
 
Twelve Australians competed in the ILCA 6 Men’s and Women’s Youth and the ILCA 6 Open Men’s World Championships 1-9 July in Dziwnow Poland. There were 374 all up in the three events with the majority (259) in the Men’s Youth Championship.
 

Team AUS had some great learning and with three in the Gold Fleet in the huge Youth Men’s event had some solid results.
 

Coach Rhett Gowans takes up the commentary from the finals series (day 4) below.
 

“Due to lack of wind, day four was a write-off. We waited ashore for a light breeze to fill in, but it never eventuated. This gave the team a further opportunity to gel as a group.
 

Day five brought a light 5-10knot N-NE. As we missed the first day of finals, they planned on running 6 races over the next two days. Over the last two days of the regatta, as the wind got lighter, the current greatly impacted the racecourse, making it difficult to get off the line cleanly. In the Aussie fleet, big learnings were taken especially start line approach & how pivotal correctly timed trigger pulls are in a big, competitive fleet.
 

Angus McIntyre added to the tally of wins, winning Race 7 in Emerald Fleet while Ed Reid and Pat Cummin had top results in their first races of the day.
 

Day six was the penultimate day of racing, three more races were scheduled. Similar to day five, the breeze was out of the N-NE, around 5-7knots for the most part. Angus chalked up another great day, with a 2, 13, 16 to take out Emerald fleet. Xavier Bates & Marcus Sampson had great first race results. Pat & Lucas James ended the regatta strongly with improvement in Race 12. Hamish Gilsenan & Ed Reid had strong, consistent races in the Gold Fleet, with Ed being the Aussies highest placed finisher in 22nd overall.
 

Lili McAullay and Frances Beebe finished a few points apart in 46 and 47 in the 100 Women’s Youth event and they and Stewart Gifford and Myles Wilson all had great regattas, experiencing how to get off tight start lines & manage big fleets.
 

Best of luck to Stewart, Xavier & Frances in Gdynia, Poland for the Euros.
 

A big thank you to all the parents, sailors, team manager – Leigh Cummin, coach Annie Eastgate, ILCA Australia youth rep and organiser Don Elks and the ILCA and Australian Sailing for making it all possible.”
 

The event web site is Here. and the full results are Here.

 
WA sailors Matt Wearn and Zoe Thompson have been selected by Australian Sailing to represent Australia at this year’s Paris 2024 Test Event, which is set to take place at the Olympic venue Marseilles from 9-16 July. Zoe produced a breakout international performance when she claimed Silver at this year’s Trofeo Princesa Sofia regatta in Palma, Spain.
 

The Test Event is a major milestone on the path to Paris, with athletes competing at the Olympic venue under the same format they will encounter at next year’s Games.
 

All Olympic classes will be present at the event.

ClubOps the market leader in Australia in providing applications for sailing club administration and race management is seeking a buyer who has a strong interest in sailing and who wishes to keep the business operational and growing for the benefit of the sailing community.
 
There is more information on the business and contacts Here.
 
To express interest, parties are asked to provide a short resume of capabilities before 3rd June to Michael Johannessen at peter@clubops.com.au.
 

While a buyer is being negotiated the ClubOps and Sailor system will remain a viable race management option into the 2023-2024 sailing season. This is due to its solid subscription base which allows the system to continue functioning with full capability other than the booking functions.
 

The booking function will be reactivated once supporting systems are re-established after takeover with all necessary steps currently being undertaken to ensure an expeditious sale process.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Dods as our new Principal Race Officer.
 
Col is passionate about providing the best race and regatta experience for sailors. His philosophy is that the racing must not only be safe, fair and fun, but that it is run professionally and in friendly collaboration with athletes, association organising committees and host clubs.
 

Col’s first event as PRO will be the 2024 Australian Open & Youth Championship at Adelaide Sailing Club.
 

Col’s sailing biography is in the press release Here.

We are sad to announce the sudden and tragic death of Peter Merritt. Peter tragically passed away on the 16th May.
 

He has been a life-long supporter of the sailing fraternity. His loss will be felt by many.
 

Peter was the valued PRO of our National & Oceania events, Director of Events for ILCA Oceania, a Life Member of ILCA Victoria and founder of sailing club and events management systems company ClubOps.
 

We send our condolences to Peter’s wife Jenny, sons Simon and Tim and mother Byrl.

The second of the 2023 Sailing World Cup events Semaine Olympique Française (French Olympic Week SOF) concluded in Hyères, France on 29 April.

There were 670 entries from 60 countries sailing in the 10 Olympic classes. The event web site is at https://sof.ffvoile.fr/

Casey Imeneo (McCYC & SSCBC) had a great series finishing third to Canada’s Sarah Douglas and Dane Anne Marie Rindom. Mara Stransky won the medal race and finished 5th so great results for our ILCA 6 sailors.

The ILCA 7s were dominated by GBR’s Elliott Hanson and Michael Beckett with Elliott grasping the gold with a win in the medal race. Matt Wearn was 4th behind Cypriot Pavlos Kontides.
 

The full results are Here.
 

The Sailing World Cup events are;

April 3-8 – Trofeo Princesa Sofia – Mallorca, Spain
April 24-29 – Semaine Olympique Française – Hyères, France
May 31-June 4 – Allianz Regatta – Almere, Netherlands
June 17-25 – Kieler Woche – Kiel, Germany

Finn Alexander (13th) Was On a Roll in the Early Windy Races