Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik Black Friday 2024 Early Access

Spotlight on youth and corinthian sailors at the 2025 Etchells World Championship

by Etchells Worlds 2025 11 Sep 04:54 BST 10-14 January 2025
Jack Abbott and his team on board Lisa Rose at the Mick Hole Regatta - which they won overall as a youth team © Etchells Worlds 2025

The Etchells World Championship in Melbourne this coming January will have a new focus as it drives amateur and youth participation in the class.

Club Corinthian has been introduced by the Australian Etchells Fleet this season specifically out of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron to celebrate amateur and youth sailors who take great interest and pleasure in competitive fleet racing. HillPDA Sailing Team is supporting a youth team with the aim of increasing participation at the upcoming World Championship and within the class.

Club Corinthian founder, Martin Hill's overall goal is to promote youth sailing, as well as providing a pathway to encourage more Corinthians back into club racing.

Speaking on its conception Hill remarked, "nostalgically, I also look back to the glory days of the Admiral's Cup, Kenwood Cup, and Southern Cross (1960s to mid-1990s) with all those talented Corinthian sailors. Those same sailors, many as youth, took on winning world championships in Etchells, Solings, J24s, and more. That style of Corinthian sailor, both at an international and club levels, has taken a back step in the last few decades," Hill noted.

Corinthian sailors, which includes youth, are very much enthusiasts, and their attendance at all regattas, big and small, is driven by the love of the sport.

"During Cowes Week in 2018, I saw the UK Etchells fleet promoting a youth squad including a pathway for disadvantaged youth to compete. Later, at the Etchells Worlds Championship in Corpus Christie 2019, those UK youth teams competed against the USA youth teams. It was a race within a race. They had a ball, and I was proud of their friendly spirit curbed with competitiveness. They did it for the love of sailing," Hill observed.

Martin took note and it gave him the inspiration to do something similar for those in Australian sailing, starting with the HillPDA Sailing Team and the Club Corinthian - For the Love of Sailing program.

Club Corinthian is an initiative to specifically highlight and support the efforts of amateur and youth sailors on the world stage. Throughout the 2024-2025 season, this initiative offers coaching opportunities both on and off the water, will provide team resources, and award additional prizes.

"I gave the challenge to Jack Abbott to form a competitive youth team for the Melbourne Worlds in 2025 and he took it up with zeal," commented Hill.

Jack Abbott is a youth sailor who has been working towards the Etchells World Championships 2025 thanks to the support of Martin Hill, who was impressed with Jack's competitiveness and character.

"We have four sailors in the team on the day but there are many who contribute to the HillPDA Sailing Team. Martin Hill is heavily supporting our campaign and has given us the opportunity to further our Etchells journey. We are being guided by legends in the class and thank them very much for their support," said Abbott.

"We're doing every event this season to support local fleets and further our own experience. Our crew has only been sailing Etchells for just under two years, there's much to learn and we are putting ourselves out there in the hope to inspire similar crews to participate in the Etchells class," commented Abbott.

The team's dedication and ability was highlighted recently, winning first place in their class at the Mick Hole Regatta held in Pittwater in July.

Featuring the outcomes of the Club Corinthian program on a global stage at the 2025 Etchells World Championships will showcase the dedication and involvement of youth and amateur sailors, from local club regattas to major championships, hoping to inspire the next generation of sailors across Australia and the world.

Related Articles

Etchells Australian Championship overall
Graeme Taylor retains the title at Metung Yacht Club Graeme Taylor retained his Australian title status in the International Etchells class, winning the 2025 championship in champagne sailing conditions on Lake King, at Metung. Posted on 6 Nov
Lipton Trophy 2024 at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
62 boats set off at staggered start times Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025 kicked off on 2 November with the first of four constituent events, the Lipton Trophy pursuit race, which saw 62 boats set off at staggered start times according to their RHKATI rating. Posted on 4 Nov
Etchells Australian Championship Day 1
Three races held in ideal conditions at Metung Yacht Club Day one racing of the 2025 Australian championship was held in champagne conditions. The race officers, Ross and Kevin Wilson, intended to run three races and they achieved their aim. Posted on 3 Nov
Etchells Australian Championship Invitational Race
Almost the entire fleet of 33 teams took part at Metung Yacht Club on Friday Champagne conditions are promised today for the first day of heats in the International Etchells 2025 Australian Championship. Posted on 2 Nov
Star World Champions heading to Etchells Worlds
A range of international performers ahead heading for Royal Brighton Yacht Club in January The Etchells National and World Championships in January 2025 at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, are attracting a range of international performers across classes including the most recent Star Class World Champions, John Kostecki and Austin Sperry. Posted on 28 Oct
Get your Australian Etchells Championship entry in
The reigning World and Australian champions will be sailing in the regatta The reigning World and Australian champions in the International Etchells class will be sailing at Metung in November, in the 2025 Australian Championship regatta. Posted on 24 Oct
Etchells Europeans 2024 at Cowes
17 teams with visitors from New Zealand, the USA and Ireland Seventeen teams were geared up to take on the season finale of the Etchells European Championship in Cowes. The event was run by the Royal Yacht Squadron of Peter Saxton and his very experienced race committee. Posted on 18 Oct
Etchells North Americans at Marblehead
Dramatic finish with just two points separating the podium The 2024 Etchells North Americans wrapped up this past weekend in Marblehead, Massachusetts, with intense competition and tricky conditions testing both race officials and sailors. Posted on 15 Oct
2025 Australian Etchells Championship Preview
Entries are flowing in for the event at Metung Yacht Club Entries are flowing in for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta, to be held November 1-5, 2024, on Lake King, at Metung, Victoria (Australia). Posted on 10 Oct
Metung sailor honoured with trophy attribution
Corinthian trophy at Australian Nationals named in his in honour The International Etchells Class Association of Australia (IECAA) has honoured its precedents by naming the Corinthian trophy in honour of the late Alexander Milledge OAM, in time for the 2025 Australian Etchells Championship regatta. Posted on 9 Oct