Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

2025 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Preview

by Andrew Stransky 2 Jan 08:10 GMT 1-8 January 2025
Issac Schotte has been rising through the ILCA 7 ranks © Beau Outteridge

On Jan 3rd 2025, 226 ILCA dinghies will be lining up to contest the 2025 Oceania and Australian Open and Youth National Championships, hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. With the Olympic games coming to Brisbane in 2032 we now see a record number of 95, predominantly youth entries in the ILCA 4 division.

The ILCA dinghy can lay claim to being the most competitive sailing class in the world, as the Olympic single-handed boat. This week we are looking at next level competition coming to Waterloo Bay off Manly Brisbane, with 20 international entrants joining the fray.

Reflecting the enthusiasm and growth in youth sailing the record number of ILCA 4s flocking to Brisbane for these nationals reflects the bright future of Australian sailing. Entries have come in thick and fast from every state. Of the leading contenders, Callum Simmons from Victoria leads the charge with Wilbur Bright (QLD) close on his transom. Thomas Cooper from WA is also a strong challenger along with Jago Tucker from NSW. In the female division, Breanne Wadley (QLD) comes in as one of the favourites along with Zoe Jackson (Vic) and Pia Hooper (WA). No doubt the racing will be thrilling.

In the 86 boat ILCA 6 (Radial) fleet, the Olympic women's boat the competition is formidable. Leading the charge will be the Australian Sailing team girls who are already training hard for the LA games under new coach Mikael Lundh. They line up as a strong top order, led by Olympians Mara Stransky and Zoe Thompson who have Elyse Ainsworth, Casey Imeneo and Evie Saunders snapping at their heels. They face serious opposition from the skilled internationals, Anja Von Allmen of Switzerland, Pia Christin Conradi of Germany and Greta Pilkington of NZ. While the women have been dominating this class in recent years they face tough competition from Healy Ryan (NSW), Riley Cantwell (Vic) and Masters world champion Simon Small. Without doubt this fleet will see some of the closest and most exciting racing that world sailing has on offer.

With the absence of double gold medallist Matt Wearn the ILCA 7 standard fleet of 45 boats looks an enthralling event. It promises to be a battle royal amongst the AST boys, led by Ethan MacAullay, Finn Alexander and Zac Littlewood. Threatening to steal their wind is a whole host of up and coming boys eager to climb the rankings. These include Issac Schotte (QLD), Lawson MacAullay and Stefan Elliot-Shircore (WA) and Eddie Reid from Tasmania. Add to this mix the top ranked internationals including ex world no1 Duko Bos of Netherlands, Cambell Patton of Bermuda and George Pilkington of NZ, there is no doubt just how fierce a competition for this crown will be.

The re-branded Laser, now the ILCA dinghy remains one of the most affordable dinghy classes, with its refined simplicity and one-design rule. Even so the cost of attending events can exclude up and coming sailors. With this in mind and the encouragement of more girls into sailing in the Oceania region, ILCA Australia has been running the Solidarity program. This year, 8 girls, 1 from each state, one from NZ and 1 from the Solomon Islands have been supplied a boat, entry and all the best help to compete at this year's nationals.

Competitors will be gifted some impressive goodies from event sponsors Sea Equipment Australia (SEA), NB Sailsports and Vaikobi. Racing runs from the 3rd-8th Jan with 2 races per day. Sailors will also be looked after by a special group of up to 100 volunteers who also give their heart and soul for the love of sailing. For results and the event noticeboard head to the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Website.

Related Articles

ILCA UK Youth Series at Parkstone
45 sailors enjoy sparkling conditions in Poole Harbour Poole Harbour was at its best for the third round of the ILCA UK Youth Series hosted by Parkstone Yacht Club and sponsored by Harken. Posted on 2 Jul
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans overall
Jon Emmett and Orlando Gledhill are crowned champions at Hayling island The 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships concluded today in Hayling Island, Great Britain, after five days of competition and nine races held for both fleets. A strong wind was expected, but conditions turned out to be lighter than forecast. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans day 3
Canadian sailor Maura Dewey has recovered the top ILCA 6 position With conditions very similar to the previous two days, the third day of racing at the 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships in Hayling Island concluded with two new races added to the score, bringing the total to six as scheduled. Posted on 19 Jun
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans day 2
2-hour postponement on shore due to lack of wind The second day of racing successfully concluded at the 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships in Hayling Island, Great Britain. Posted on 18 Jun
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans Day 1
Ideal sailing conditions at Hayling Island, UK The 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships officially kicked off on Monday in Hayling Island, Great Britain. With ideal sailing conditions, both of the scheduled races were completed in the afternoon. Posted on 17 Jun
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at Weymouth
Sailors thrive in 'champagne to fruity' conditions ILCA sailors from as far away as Norwich gathered in Weymouth when The Andrew Simpson Performance Academy hosted the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme led by Georgina Povall and supported by Molly Sacker from the British Sailing Team. Posted on 3 Jun
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George SC
Sailing, skills, and sunshine - thanks to SailingFast and Wildwind King George Sailing Club played host to an ILCA Women's Coaching Programme, welcoming sixteen female sailors from as far away as Lancashire and East Anglia ranging from 14 year olds to, err, ladies of a certain age, all excited to learn together. Posted on 20 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds overall
The northern wind arrives - Qingdao's final challenge Today marks the final day of the 2025 ILCA World Championships. While the champions have yet to be crowned, Qingdao's signature northern wind has already unfurled the curtain on the ultimate showdown. Posted on 17 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 5
Clearing Skies and Fresh Breezes: Racing Finally Begins in Qingdao After four consecutive days of still air and thick fog, the ILCA World Championships in Qingdao finally saw its first official races on Day 5. Posted on 16 May
ILCA Women's Coaching Programme goes international
Sailors aged age 14 - 60 enjoyed a great week in Greece Maartje van Dam, Chief Instructor at Wildwind explained, "We have sponsored the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme in the UK from the beginning and saw the opportunity to offer a whole week of coaching with our first Women's ILCA Clinic at Wildwind. Posted on 16 May