Wearn Sets Sights on Third ILCA7 World Title

Matt Wearn © Beau Outteridge / Australian Sailing Team

Nine Australian athletes are set to take on the 2026 Men's ILCA7 World Championships in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland this week, with six days of racing ahead on Dublin Bay. Headlining the Australian contingent is double Olympic Champion Matt Wearn.

Wearn arrives in Dublin with the title firmly in his sights after an incredible 2026 season, winning all three Sailing Grand Slams he raced in.

"It has been a great year so far, but the Worlds have always been the goal this season. This is the event that everyone wants to win this year, and it would be great to put an exclamation point on my return back to racing for the year with a third World Championship (win)," said Wearn.

The Australian National Squad has already spent significant time getting familiar with the conditions on Dublin Bay. "We have done a month of training on the waters here since June and we have learnt quickly to expect everything," said Wearn. "The weather is hard to predict and changes regularly, so I imagine we will have a bit of everything over the six days."

A unique aspect of the ILCA7 World Championships is the use of supplied equipment, reducing the logistical challenges for the 141-strong fleet while ensuring all sailors compete on equal equipment. With everyone racing the same boats, the focus is firmly on athlete skill and performance.

Wearn explained, "Everyone is in equal equipment for the Worlds with the mandatory charter, which have been provided by Element 6 again this year. They do an incredible job producing consistently good boats, so you know everyone is on the same playing field, so to speak. It really puts the athlete in control of the final outcome."

Fellow Australian Sailing Team athletes Zac Littlewood and Ethan McAullay will join Wearn on the start line this week.

Zac Littlewood - photo © Beau Outteridge / Australian Sailing Team

Littlewood, who finished third at the 2025 ILCA7 World Championships, will be looking to build on that performance and once again challenge at the front of the fleet. McAullay will also be looking to continue a strong run of form throughout the 2026 season.

The 2026 ILCA7 World Championships will feature a Preliminary Series followed by an Elimination Series, before culminating in the Final Series on 30 August, when the next ILCA7 World Champion will be crowned.

Full list of entries can be found here

Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) and other Australian (AUS) entries at the ILCA7 World Championships:

ILCA7 (141 entries)
Matt Wearn (AST)
Ethan McAullay (AST)
Zac Littlewood (AST)
Michael Compton (AS Squad)
Lawson McAullay (AS Squad)
Isaac Shotte (AS Squad)
Alexander Bijkerk (SSPP)
Finn Buckley (AUS)
Patrick Scally (AUS)