Gosford Sailing Club to host ILCA Coast Championship

ILCA Coast Championship 2023 © Gosford Sailing Club

Gosford Sailing Club is hosting the 2023 ILCA NSW & ACT Coast Championship for a fifth time on the weekend of 14th and 15th October. Approximately 60 boats will competing from around NSW and ACT.

The action starts on Saturday at 1300 hours and 1130hours on Sunday. The rigging area in the park beside the Sailing Club will be busy with ILCA dinghies from about 1000 both days as sailors prepare and rig their boats for each day. There are six races scheduled over the two days.

International competitor from New Caledonia is competing as a lead up to the Pacific Games to be held in Honiara, Soloman Islands from November 19, 2023. Local Belmont 16s sailor Tom Farley who is also competing in the Pacific Games is expected to be competing over the weekend.

Pre-race action can be viewed from the restaurant area upstairs in the club. On the water action can be viewed from Pioneer Park at Point Frederick.

2023 is a big year for most Olympic sports including sailing, as countries try to qualify to compete in 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Sailing will be held in Marseilles and Australia has already qualified in the ILCA Class for both men and women.

Australia will be hosting Olympic qualifying events for Oceania in Sydney in November and the World Men's ILCA 7 Championship in Adelaide in January 2024.

This ILCA event at Gosford is one of several lead up championships to these Olympic qualification events.

Since 1932, Gosford Sailing Club has evolved from an aquatic club with two 16ft skiffs in its sailing section to one which promotes the sport of sailing in all its forms.

The Clubs activities have been shaped by local economic conditions, social changes and revolutions in boat design and sailing techniques. Gosford Sailing Club is a non-profit organisation, and the clubhouse stands as a tribute to the men and women who have devoted much of their leisure time to running the Club and its programs. Over 90 years, the Club has promoted the sport of sailing to all in the community and today has several fleet divisions encompassing Sailability, SheSails, Yachts, Lasers, Off the Beach, Contenders and Tackers. The Club runs Learn to Sail programs for children through to adults, and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the sailing activities and the clubhouse restaurant.