2026 ILCA national championships: Top Kiwi sailors push world's best as wild weather decides Bay of Islands event
Wild weather in the north of the country has brought an early end to the 2026 ILCA national championships at Bay of Islands Yacht Club, with torrential overnight rain across parts of Northland forcing the cancellation of the final day’s racing. The decision confirmed the standings after three days and sealed the results of a regatta that had produced high-quality racing and several tight battles across the fleets.
The cancellation was felt most keenly in the ILCA 6 open division, where Greta Pilkington had put herself firmly back into title contention. Pilkington, who made her Olympic debut in Paris in 2024, delivered a standout performance in ideal conditions, backing up a third place in the opening race with back-to-back wins to close rapidly on American leader Erika Reineke. With just two races remaining and momentum clearly on her side, Pilkington finished the championship narrowly short, with Reineke holding on for the title by four points. Australia’s Frances Beebe claimed third overall after winning the day’s opening race, while former ILCA 6 men’s world champion George Lane climbed to fourth and led the open men’s division ahead of top youth sailor Arran Begic. Chloe Turner (10th overall) was the top youth female, followed by Australia's Olivia Aitken and German Maja Jacob.
The ILCA 7 fleet produced one of the closest contests of the regatta, with just two points separating the top three after eight races. World No 1 Mickey Beckett (Great Britain) secured the title through remarkable consistency, finishing third in all three races on the final completed day. He ended one point ahead of world No 5 Duko Bos (Netherlands), with Ireland’s Finn Lynch, the world No 3, a further point back after winning the final two races.
New Zealand’s George Gautrey finished fourth overall, with Singapore’s Ryan Lo fifth, both remaining within striking distance throughout the championship. Rising Kiwi talents Caleb Armit and George Pilkington were seventh and eighth, respectively. Zach Stibbe topped the under-21 standings and finished 10th overall, opening up a commanding 29-point margin over Sam Clark, with Liam Dimock third in the youth fleet. In the ILCA 7 masters, Nik Burfoot (Grand Master) extended his lead after another consistent day, ahead of Australia’s Sean Atherton-Feeny and former masters world champion Scott Leith.
The ILCA 4 fleet delivered a compelling three-way battle between Nathan Soper, Ava Wu and Sofia Turner. Soper claimed two race wins on the final day to retain the overall lead, while Wu won the remaining race to secure second. Turner remained close behind in third, with Ellie Tapper and Kiera Dimock rounding out the top five.
In the ILCA 6 Masters, defending champion Phil Wild was again dominant, winning all three races to comfortably secure the title. Dave Johnson finished a clear second overall, with Werner Hennig third and Great Grand Master Graeme Tee moving into fourth.
Final results and standings here.
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