Kiel Week begins this week on the Baltic Sea, featuring Australia’s Nacra 17 squad, which aims to solidify its performance ahead of the European Championships. Four crews are competing, carrying significant momentum and determined to refine their racing processes to achieve podium finishes.
National Squad coach Darren Bundock noted that this regatta serves as an opportunity for experimentation, allowing teams to explore areas not tested in previous events.
Strategically, Kiel offers an advantage as it is located near Eckernförde, the site of the upcoming European Championships, with similar racing conditions expected.
The squad is bringing strong form into the regatta. Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have consistently finished in the top ten throughout the season. Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman showcased their potential with a fourth-place finish at the World Championships last month, demonstrating their capability to compete at the highest level.
For Gargett, Kiel is about fine-tuning details in preparation for the European Championships. He stated that the focus is on integrating new processes into their racing strategy while sailing in familiar conditions against top competitors.
With 20 boats entered, the competition remains fierce, albeit slightly smaller than anticipated for the Europeans. The Australian teams will use the week to trial minor adjustments in roles and decision-making, which are typically challenging to test under the pressure of a championship.
Bundock emphasised that while they are close to breaking through to the podium, the squad has yet to achieve significant success. He expects Liddell and Brown to improve following a World Championship campaign that did not reflect their season’s consistency. He views the next two regattas as critical for Gargett and Hoffman to prove their capabilities, anticipating substantial improvements in both events.
His ambitions for the week include achieving three top-ten finishes and ideally securing a spot on the podium.
As the squad progresses through Kiel Week, the focus remains on development, with the podium firmly in sight.
Full list of entries can be found here.
**Nacra 17 (20 entries)**
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AST)
Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)
**49er (88 entries)**
Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman (ASF)
Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima (ASF)
Spencer McKay / Benedict McKay (SSPP)
Luke Rogers / Kristian Bilston (SSPP)
**470 (27 entries)**
Sienna Brown / Ellis Merrit (SSPP)
**ILCA 6 (60 entries)**
Sara Bruce (SSPP)
Sylvie Stannage (AUS)
**ILCA 7 (121 entries)**
Hamish Gilsenan (SSSP)
Xavier Bates (AUS)
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**About Australian Sailing**
Australian Sailing is the governing body for the sport of Sailing in Australia, responsible for the administration, promotion, and development of sailing. It represents the interests of over 360 clubs and provides support to more than 160 accredited Discover Sailing Centres.
The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative team for Olympic-class sailing, uniting elite athletes and rising stars through a unified high-performance pathway.
Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead
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