Australia’s top skiff and multihull sailors are preparing to compete in the Nacra 17, 49er, and 49erFX World Championships in Quiberon, France, with the Australian team fielding 11 entries across the three Olympic classes. Athletes are gearing up for a variety of conditions on France’s Atlantic coast.
49erFX duo Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot, fresh off a podium finish at the Sailing Grand Slam in Hyères, bring strong momentum into the World Championships. Harding expressed enthusiasm about applying their recent learnings in the competition. Paris 2024 Olympian Evie Haseldine and Australian Sailing Futures athlete Brooke Wilson will also compete in the 49erFX Class.
In the Men’s 49er fleet, Harry Price and Max Paul aim to continue their consistent performance after top-six finishes at the season’s first two Sailing Grand Slam events. Price commented on their solid start to the season and looks forward to the challenges ahead, noting that the weather forecast indicates plenty of wind for the first few days.
Additionally, four other Australian crews will join Price and Paul in the competitive 49er field. In the Nacra 17, Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown, also aiming for the podium after a fourth-place finish at the last World Championships in Italy, lead a strong four-boat Australian squad. Brown shared their determination to improve upon their previous results.
Michael Blackburn, the Australian Sailing Team Technical Director, is in France with the team and anticipates unique challenges from the regatta’s conditions. He noted that the forecast indicates cool, moderate offshore winds that could favour the crews but will require skill in reading the shifts, particularly after a week of training in steady onshore conditions.
The World Championships, scheduled from 12–17 May, represent a crucial benchmark on the path to LA 2028.
Full list of entries can be found here.
### Entries:
**Nacra 17** (34 entries)
Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AS Squad)
Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)
**49er** (80 entries)
Jack Ferguson / Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)
Otto Henry / Shaun Connor (AS Squad)
Harry Price / Max Paul (AS Squad)
Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman (ASF)
Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima (ASF)
**49erFX** (53 entries)
Laura Harding / Annie Wilmot (AS Squad)
Brooke Wilson (ASF) / Evie Haseldine (AS Squad)
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**Web:** www.australiansailingteam.com.au
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