Please select your home edition
Edition
495 McKinley Drive Lboard Dec 2024

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

by Andrew Stransky 2 Jan 00:10 PST 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

Got your boating safety certificate yet?
A 2025 mandatory boating safety education requirement BoatUS Foundation's online Boating Safety Course helps Empire State residents meet 2025 mandatory boating safety education requirement. Posted on 2 Jan
The Johnson 70 Hull No. 2
A custom-built yacht on her way to Canada The owner eagerly anticipates receiving this New Year's gift. This marks the first Johnson yacht to reach Canada, and we look forward to seeing more of our yachts in Canadian waters. Posted on 21 Dec 2024
Meet the Aquila 50 Yacht Power Catamaran
Embark on a new era of sophistication Prepare for an elevated yachting experience with the Aquila 50 Yacht Power Catamaran. Say hello to the future of exploration as we introduce an all-new "Explorer" aesthetic, with a commanding high freeboard that sets it apart from the rest. Posted on 21 Dec 2024
Custom Line 50
The brand's first 50-metre full-aluminium superyacht Custom Line 50, the first 50-metre superyacht built entirely from aluminium, is the new displacement flagship and makes her debut in the metal yachts segment under 500 GT. Posted on 19 Dec 2024
Coupe Power Catamarans
Meet the all-new Aquila 42 and 46 Coupe Who said you can't have it all? Meet the all-new Aquila 42 and 46 Coupe Power Catamarans — quiet sophistication and roaring performance that will open new horizons for travel, exploration and fun! Posted on 17 Dec 2024
"Sober Skipper™ Why It Matters" video series
Featuring a diverse group of boating influencers The Sea Tow Foundation™, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting boating safety, is excited to launch its new video series titled "Sober Skipper™: Why It Matters." Posted on 14 Dec 2024
Oceanco Kairos 80 - Design by Pininfarina
One of the new exterior designs added to Oceanco's Simply Custom collection Delivering an unprecedented variety of choice from a single technical base, owners can now take inspiration from a total of 27 Simply Custom yacht designs penned by top-tier studios from around the world. Posted on 14 Dec 2024
Freedom Boat Club teams up with Savvy Navvy
One of the Club's largest franchise groups in the US loves this navigation app Freedom Boat Club Delaware, part of one of the largest boat club communities in the US, has teamed up with Savvy Navvy to bring easier and safer navigation to more boaters. Here they reflect on how it has helped their boat club members. Posted on 13 Dec 2024
Bennington new M-Series
Bringing an elevated experience to the mid-range pontoon segment Bennington, North America's leading manufacturer of luxury pontoon boats, brings unprecedented luxury and an elevated experience to the mid-range pontoon segment with the launch of the M Series. Posted on 12 Dec 2024
New Extra X106 Fast project
A streamlined look thanks to the superstructure being shifted towards the bow EXTRA Yachts presents the new X106 FAST project, a concentration of power and volume to provide guests with a comfortable experience on board and great performance. Posted on 11 Dec 2024
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER