2025 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Preview
by Andrew Stransky 2 Jan 21:10 NZDT
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.