After months of training in isolation the Australian Sailing Team (AST) and Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) members are ready to compete in Sail Sydney, their first major regatta in almost a year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on international sporting events, not the least of which was the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games to 2021.

But with many European nations continuing their campaigns at the various European Championships held this year, the Australian team bunkered down and looked locally when planning their revised plans to a delayed Tokyo Olympics.

Most classes have not competed since their World Championships in 2019, with the 49ers, Lasers and Nacras last racing in January and February 2020.

Australian Sailing’s Director – Tokyo 2020 Olympic Campaign, Iain Murray AM, said the team were now more than ready to get back to competing.
“This has obviously been the most unusual Olympic preparation the team has ever faced,” said Murray. “I am incredibly proud of the way the entire team has faced the challenges, and I know how eager they are to get back out there racing next week.”

The path to Olympic glory has had an unusual path this year with athletes training in regional centres including Coffs Harbour, Mooloolaba, Ballina, Jervis Bay and Lake Macquarie among others. With the team made up of athletes from across the nation, the team has faced ongoing logistical issues around getting teams together in the face of regular border access issues.

“Not for one second has the team lost its focus,” continued Murray. “Whilst we watched from afar as our European competitors started racing again, our team were setting up home gyms and traversing the state for training camps in the depths of winter to keep their campaigns on track.”

49erFX crew Tess Lloyd and Jamie Ryan are looking forward to exercising their racing skills on Sydney Harbour.  “We have been watching our overseas friends and competitors, feeling a little jealous because we can’t get out there,” Lloyd said.  “But at the same time, we have made the most of our training on our home waters trying to simulate racing situations.  We are looking forward to getting on the start line at Sail Sydney and hopefully experience some glamour Sydney sea breezes!”

In the 49er class, AST team Will and Sam Phillips are joined by Squad members Jim Colley, Shaun Connor, Tom Needham and Joel Turner.  Rio Olympic Gold medallist Tom Burton OAM will also join them, having swapped his Laser to skipper a 49er with Squad member Simon Hoffman.

2020 Australian Sailing Female Sailor of the Year Lisa Darmanin will also be back in action on her Nacra 17, along with skipper and cousin Jason Waterhouse.  

Rio Olympian Jake Lilley will return in his Finn, as will Tokyo selections Matt Wearn and Mara Stransky in the Laser Radial class.

For more information on Sail Sydney please visit the event website.
Click here to view the Entry List (correct as of 30 November 2020).

Australian Sailing Team and Australian Sailing Squad entries at Sail Sydney 2020
49er
Will Phillips and Sam Phillips (VIC)
Tom Burton and Simon Hoffman (NSW)
Jim Colley and Shaun Connor (NSW)
Tom Needham and Joel Turner (QLD)

49erFX
Tess Lloyd (VIC) and Jaime Ryan (NSW)

Finn
Jake Lilley (QLD)

Laser Radial
Mara Stransky (QLD)

Laser Standard
Matt Wearn (WA)
Finn Alexander (NSW)

Nacra 17
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (NSW)