The iQFOiL World Championships will get underway next week in Weymouth, United Kingdom, with 186 athletes from 41 nations set to compete across the Men’s and Women’s divisions.
For the Australian Sailing Team, attention will be firmly on a mix of established international performers and some of the country’s emerging iQFOiL talent, with the fleet set for six days of high-speed racing on the waters that hosted the sailing events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In the Men’s iQFOiL, Paris 2024 silver medallist Grae Morris will headline the Australian contingent as he looks to build on an impressive international season and put some key lessons into practice in Weymouth.
“The lead-up has been brilliant. There’s been plenty of wind to play with, and there’s lots to figure out in this area,” shared Morris. “Thanks to the 2012 Olympics, there’s a lot of data to look back on, and we’ve been spending a lot of time comparing notes, which has been entertaining. So, we’re ready for the final throwdown.”
Morris has experienced both highs and lows throughout the season, but he is firmly focused on what lies ahead and the opportunity to put his preparation into action when racing begins.
“All I know is that if I put together a regatta with the level of skill that I can show, along with the training that I’ve done, I know that if there are no setbacks from doing silly things or any gear problems, I can dominate an event pretty handily. So, I’m just going to focus on the things I can control.”
“I’m really looking forward to trying to execute that. Even though it’s going to be really hard, it’s going to be a really good time. I’m just pretty keen to kick it off, get it all started and get it all done.”
Morris will be joined by rising star Rory Meehan, who arrives in Weymouth after an outstanding fifth-place finish at the most recent Sailing Grand Slam in Long Beach. The 2025 U19 World Champion has continued to make his mark in the senior international fleet, consistently showing that he has the speed and potential to compete among the world’s best.
Meehan will be joined on the Men’s start line by Australian Sailing Futures athletes Phillip Cripsey, Jarrod Jones and Matthew Quinlan, rounding out a strong Australian contingent.
In the Women’s iQFOiL, an exciting new prospect will make her debut on the international stage under the Australian flag, with 2025 U23 World Champion Stella Bilger now eligible to represent Australia.
Bilger, who previously represented New Zealand, is a dual Australian-New Zealand citizen and has been released by Yachting New Zealand and approved by World Sailing to compete for Australia. She arrives in Weymouth following a strong international season, including a fourth-place finish at French Olympic Week earlier this year, where she narrowly missed out on a podium placing.
Bilger will be joined in the Women’s fleet by Australian Sailing Futures athlete Amelia Wilson and Australian athlete Sammie Costin.
With Weymouth’s famous Olympic waters providing the backdrop, the Australians will face six days of intense competition against the world’s best iQFOiL sailors.
Racing begins on Monday, 7 September, before building towards the high-adrenaline knockout final series on Saturday, 12 September, where the next iQFOiL World Champions will be crowned.
Full entry list can be found here.
Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) and other Australian (AUS) entries at the iQFOiL World Championship:
iQFOiL – Men (109 entries)
Grae Morris (AST)
Rory Meehan (AS Squad)
Phillip Crispey (ASF)
Jarrod Jones (ASF)
Matthew Quinlan (SSPP)
iQFOiL – Women (74 entries)
Amelia Wilson (ASF)
Stella Bilger (AUS)
Sammie Costin (AUS)
Follow the Australian Sailing Team
Web: www.australiansailingteam.com.au
Instagram: @aussailingteam
Facebook: @aussailingteam
About Australian Sailing
Australian Sailing is the governing body for the sport of Sailing in Australia. We are responsible for the administration, promotion and development of sailing. We are a member-based organisation that represent the interests and provides services and support to over 360 clubs across Australia as well as more than 160 accredited Discover Sailing Centres.
The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative team for Olympic-class sailing, bringing together Australia’s elite athletes and rising stars through a unified high-performance pathway within Australian Sailing.
Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead
#iQFOiL #AustralianSailing #Weymouth
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