Sixteen months out from the Paris Olympic Games, the European season of Olympic classes events start with the ILCA European Championships in Andora on the Italian Riviera, where Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) and Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) sailors are preparing for competition in the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 classes.

Racing is to take place from 12 March (Monday Australian time) to 17 March (Sunday local time). 

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, Matt Wearn OAM, will lead the charge in the ILCA 7 (ex-Laser Men’s). The West Australian has continued to produce the form that sealed the deal at those Games. Wearn will be a force to be reckoned with, having won both the 2018 and 2019 Europeans. He did not compete at the 2022 Europeans.  

Matt Wearn at the 2022 Princess Sofia Trophy - credit Sailing Energy

Wearn, along with fellow competitors Luke Elliott (ASS), Ethan McAullay (ASS), Zac Littlewood (ASS) and Stefan Elliott Shircore (ASF) form a strong delegation of West Australian ILCA 7 sailors in Andora. They are joined by NSW sailor, Finn Alexander (ASS). 

All have had their share of successes and shown promise as the journey towards Paris continues. However, the competition will, naturally, be as tough as it can be. Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and Hermann Tomasgaard (NOR), the respective Tokyo Games silver and bronze medallists are among the 192 competitors. Stipanovic also finished in the silver medal position at the 2016 Games.

The ILCA 6 (ex-Laser Radial) fleet includes Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Mara Stransky. The Queensland sailor went on to win Gold at Kiel Week in late June 2022. She continues to be pushed hard by West Australians, Zoe Thomson and Elyse Ainsworth, as well as Victorian, Casey Imeneo. 

Both squads will be testing themselves in challenging conditions, which is exactly what they want as they build their skills in the lead-up to the World Championships in The Netherlands this August.

"It's looking like the ILCA team is in for some light and lumpy conditions for the duration of the regatta,” noted Australian Sailing Technical Director Michael Blackburn.

“It's not the most fun conditions to sail in, so it will be a real test of how well they can adapt to early Euro season winds and stay consistent mentally."

Mara Stransky leading the fleet at the Princess Sofia Trophy - credit Beau Outteridge

Having four strong sailors in the ILCA 6 squad has helped push the women to new levels in the past year and they will have to be at their best next week. 

All three 2020 medallists from the Tokyo Games are competing. Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN), Josefin Olsson (SWE) and Marit Bouwmeester (NED) won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively. Bouwmeester also won Gold at the 2016 Olympics and Rindom Bronze. It is an unforgiving fleet of 117. 

Organised by Circolo Nautico Andora (CNA) and EurILCA, the ILCA Europeans will be held on trapezoid courses with inner and outer loops and a reach to the finish. The target time for the first boat in each race will be 50 minutes.

For entry list and to follow the regatta, including full results, go to: https://2023-senior.eurilca-europeans.org/#

The Australian Team in Andora comprises: 

ILCA 7
Matt Wearn (AST)
Luke Elliott (ASS)
Ethan McAullay (ASS)
Zac Littlewood  (ASS)
Finn Alexander (ASS)
Stefan Elliott Shircore (ASF)  

ILCA 6
Zoe Thomson (AST)
Mara Stranksy (ASS)
Elyse Ainsworth (ASS)
Casey Imeneo (ASS)

By Di Pearson/AST media