Australian sailors set to race on Olympic waters with just two years to go to LA2028

Grae Morris at Paris 2024 © Sailing Energy

With two years to go until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Australia's Olympic sailing athletes are set to race on the very waters where Olympic medals will be decided.

The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta gets under way this week at Belmont Shore, with the iQFOiL and Formula Kite fleets the first to test themselves on the future Olympic racecourse in 2028.

Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris, landed in LA almost two weeks ago has been clocking up the hours on the Olympic waters and says the conditions are providing a valuable insight into what athletes can expect in 2028.

"I have been in LA for about two weeks now and finding it pretty fun. Dead flat water, some pretty consistent breeze, definitely pushing some good speeds, just having to do a bit of weed dodging, which is all a part of the game. Very much enjoying these conditions and feeling super strong."

The regatta provides a great opportunity for athletes to gain valuable experience at the LA2028 venue.

"I'm really looking forward to racing. Been doing a lot of training, so it'll be good to put it into the real deal and get back on the start line. There are a few things that I have my mind on, and I'm mainly just focused on getting my head around the Olympic waters, getting a vibe for what it's going to be like in two years' time."

Reflecting on the two-year countdown to LA 2028 and the fact it has already been two years since winning Olympic silver on debut in Paris, Morris said, "To be honest, it feels like it's been a lot longer than two years since the last Olympics, and I'm really just counting down the days to the next one and hoping it comes quicker and quicker because I'm kind of frothing that feeling again of being within the Olympics and really hunting those nerves. I'm looking forward to it all happening."

Paris 2024 Olympian Breiana Whitehead believes racing at the Olympic venue this far ahead of the Games is an important part of building towards LA 2028.

"For sailing classes it's so important to get an understanding of the Olympic venue and really have a good prediction on what the racing is going to be like," said Whitehead. "With the Kite Finals format coming down to one race deciding the results, it's so important to have a really good picture of what racing is going to look like and be really prepared for that. It's really great to race in this event where the Olympics will be in two years' time, I can't believe it's so close!"

The Queenslander raced here last year, so already has some experience of the Long Beach venue and now has another valuable week of learnings this year..

"I've been in Long Beach for about a week. It's been a nice venue to go for a kite! Sunny, pretty warm and mostly consistent conditions. It's going to be a good week of racing. Lots of the international fleet have made it over here, and I'm keen to get back into racing and kiting in the Olympic venue."

Oscar Timm will also represent Australia in the Formula Kite men's competition.

Following the iQFOiL and Formula Kite competition, the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta will take place in the Port of Los Angeles, with the ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and 470 fleets racing from 20-24 July, before the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes take to the course from 3-7 August.

Full list of entries can be found here

Australian Sailing Team (AST),Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad) and State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) entries at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta:

iQFOiL(36 entries)
Grae Morris (AST)
Rory Meehan (AS Squad)

Formula Kite - Women (24 entries)
Breiana Whitehead (AST)

Formula Kite - Men (36 entries)
Oscar Timm (SSPP)