Australian Sailing (AS) have decided to resume selecting and part supporting an Australian team for the World Sailing Youth World Championships (YSWC) starting with the 2025 event in Vilamoura, Portugal 12-20 December 2025.
The YSWC is a major international event for sailors aged 12-18. One female and one male sailor will represent their country in ILCA 6 with other classes 420, 29er, Kitefoil, and Nacra.
Under the new AS arrangements participation is self funded with AS estimating a cost of $10,000. Sailors interesting in winning selection for this event should place an expression of interest on the AS web site at https://www.sailing.org.au/events/299011# before 21 September 2025. AS have published their Selection Guidelines Here.
Due to the timing of the events AS will base their selection for 2025 YSWC on performance achieved at the NSW Youth Sail Sailing Championships 4-6 October 2025 at Toronto ASC. In future years AS will base their selection on the performance at the preceding Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships i.e. for 2026 on 2026 Championships 1-8 January in Hobart. The Hobart event is also the Ranking event for all 2026 ILCA World Championships except Masters which is based the separate 2026 Australian National Masters.
As ILCA members we are well off with seven World Championships throughout our three rigs for sailors from 13 to 85 years of age. That and two Olympic events, no other class offers this.