2026 ILCA 7 World Championship, Day 3: New Zealand trio hang tough after challenging first day of gold fleet racing in Ireland

The New Zealand trio of sailors are hanging tough after a challenging first day of gold fleet racing at the 2026 ILCA 7 World Championship in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.

Former class world champion Tom Saunders remains the leading Kiwi, sitting 22nd overall after carding a best score of 20th in the two-race opening day of the elimination series.

Saunders, a former world champion in the class who began the regatta strongly with a race win on day one, is four points clear of teammate George Gautrey in 25th overall.

Tom Saunders is 22nd overall - the leading Kiwi in the championship. Photos / Down Under Sail

Gautrey produced a 27th in the opening race before discarding a 36th, while Caleb Armit sits 43rd after recording a 26th and a dropped 46th with four more gold fleet races remaining.

It was a particularly challenging day across the fleet, with the 8–11-knot breeze shifting left as the afternoon progressed and a one-metre swell adding to the testing conditions. 

George Gautrey is four points behind Saunders. Photos / Down Under Sail

The unsettled nature of the racing was reflected at the top of the leaderboard, too. Singapore's Ryan Lo moved into the overall lead after winning the first race of the day and adding a seventh, while local favourite Finn Lynch slipped from first to second after a 31st and 10th.

The conditions also provided opportunities for big movers, with Britain's Finley Dickinson climbing from 18th to seventh overall after a 5-4 scoreline, while Australia's Zac Littlewood moved from 15th to eighth with a 3-8. Twice Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn also endured another difficult day, dropping a 40th before finishing 18th to sit 12th overall.

Caleb Armit also made gold fleet. Photos / Down Under Sail

While Saunders, Gautrey and Armit continue their gold fleet campaign, George Pilkington enjoyed his best day of the regatta in the silver fleet. Pilkington produced a fifth-place finish in the second race of the day, lifting him to 71st overall. Zach Stibbe is 108th overall and just outside the top 10 in the bronze fleet.

The elimination series continues tonight (NZ time), with two further races scheduled and the first warning signal at 11pm.

Latest results and standings here.