Strong Kiwi contingent shows up at ILCA Australian Championships

Yachting and Boating Quarterly - Edition 3

Issue date

8 Jan 2023

Ten New Zealand laser sailors flew across the ditch to compete in the Oceania & Australian Open & Youth ILCA Laser Championships over the first week of January.

Laser World Champion Thomas Saunders was among those competing in the event, which was hosted by Georges River Sailing Club, along with George Gautrey, Luke Cashmore, Caleb Armit, and ILCA 6 sailor Greta Pilkington.

Caleb Armit followed by Luke Cashmore. Photo credit // Jon West Photography

Two days of racing were lost due to strong winds, and day five tested the less experienced with average winds of 19 knots before the breeze moderated to 15 knots on the final day.

George Gautrey managed the best result in the ILCA 7 fleet with 5^th place, followed only a few places behind by Tom Saunders in 7^th.

Game face for Dylan Forsyth. Photo credit: Jon West Photography

Greta Pilkington was the top placed Kiwi in the ILCA 6 fleet placing 19^th.

“The regatta was a good first hit for our sailors in 2023, and with Sydney being so close it gave our developing sailors the opportunity to get on the start line with world class competition” says YNZ High Performance Manager Ian Stewart.

Tom Saunders and George Gautrey will now move on to the Sail Melbourne Regatta at Royal Brighton from 14^th to 18^th January. The remaining Kiwi sailors return home and will line up in what will be a hotly contested New Zealand ILCA Nationals, held out of Murray’s Bay Sailing Club from 19-22 January.

Full results:

ILCA 6