The Australian Sailing Team (AST) kicks off its international season at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Sailing Grand Slam in Palma, Spain, featuring 38 Australian entries across all 10 Olympic classes.
This highly regarded regatta is known for its competitive fleets and unpredictable weather conditions, making it an essential early-season benchmark after extensive training sessions back home.
Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn is excited to rejoin the international racing scene, marking his first major competition since securing his second consecutive Olympic gold in Marseille in August 2024. “I am looking forward to getting back into the bigger fleets again. There is something about the chaos of 75 boats in each fleet that puts the pressure on, and I think I am going to enjoy that again,” Wearn said. He emphasised the event’s varied conditions, which contribute to an exciting regatta atmosphere, stating, “This event always offers a good variety of conditions… the level is really high.”
Breiana Whitehead, a previous overall winner of the regatta and Paris 2024 Olympian, is eager to commence her campaign as well. “It’s been a while since racing with the international fleet for me. I’m keen to check back in after a summer down under. I think this regatta is a great way to start the European season with all the Olympic classes in one venue,” she remarked.
Michael Blackburn, AST Technical Director, underlined the regatta’s significance for performance assessment. “Palma is where the season really starts for us, it’s the first major European regatta and a chance to benchmark ourselves against the best in the world. It provides a clear picture of where we’re at and what we need to improve as we head deeper into the LA28 campaign,” he stated.
Conditions are expected to be varied, with a mix of shifty offshore breezes forecast, adding to the race’s challenges. Racing begins on Monday, 30 March, continuing through the week, culminating in Medal Races on Saturday, 4 April, where a new format will be trialled. The Australian contingent is eager to showcase their skills against the world’s top sailors.
Full list of entries can be found here.
ILCA 6
Elyse Ainsworth (AST)
Mara Stransky (AST)
Zoe Thomson (AST)
Casey Imeneo (AS Squad)
Evie Saunders (AS Squad)
Ellen Sampson (ASF)
Lili McAullay (ASF)
Sylvie Stannage (AUS)
Frances Beebe (AUS)
ILCA 7
Matt Wearn (AST)
Ethan McAullay (AST)
Zac Littlewood (AST)
Michael Compton (AS Squad)
Lawson McAullay (AS Squad)
Isaac Schotte (AS Squad)
Alexander Bijkerk (SSPP)
iQFOiL – Men
Grae Morris (AST)
Rory Meehan (AS Squad)
Phillip Crispey (ASF)
Jarrod Jones (ASF)
Matthew Quinlan (SSPP)
iQFOiL – Women
Anna Crispey (ASF)
Amelia Wilson (ASF)
Sammie Costin (AUS)
Formula Kite – Men
Oscar Timm (SSPP)
Formula Kite – Women
Brieana Whitehead (AST)
Nacra 17
Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AS Squad)
Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)
49er
Jack Ferguson / Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)
Otto Henry / Shaun Connor (AS Squad)
Harry Price / Max Paul (AS Squad)
49erFX
Laura Harding / Annie Wilmot (AS Squad)
Brooke Wilson (ASF) / Evie Haseldine (AS Squad)
470
Sienna Brown / Ellis Merrit (ASF)
Ben Hinks / Fallon Katz (ASF)
Sophie Jackson / Austin Cross (ASF)
Alice Buchanan / Angus Higgins (SSPP)
Follow the Australian Sailing Team
Web: www.australiansailingteam.com.au
Instagram: @aussailingteam
Facebook: @aussailingteam
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