Australian Sailing Team set to take on the world in Cagliari

The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships are set to get underway in Cagliari, Sardinia, from October 7–12, featuring 14 Australian teams ready to compete against the world’s best. This event marks the final major competition of the European season for the Australian Sailing Team, providing a chance to conclude the year on a high note.

Highlighted in the Nacra 17 class are Paris 2024 Olympians Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown, who aim to translate their consistent performances into a career-best finish at this World Championship. Liddell expressed, “This is the best part of the campaign, being able to put our skills to the test and seeing how we stack up against the best teams in the world.” He noted their strong run of results this season but acknowledged past struggles at World Championships, stating their goal to establish themselves as top contenders this week.

Joining them are fellow National Squad members Ruben and Rita Booth, who have been gaining momentum throughout the European season, along with young talents Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman. A new pairing for 2025, Jake Liddell and Niamh Meehan, will also compete in the 43-boat Nacra fleet.

In the 49erFX class, Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot will aim to improve on their fifth-place finish from the 2024 World Championships. Harding shared, “We have had a great lead up to the regatta, getting used to the warmer weather and settling into the conditions after a few domestic training camps.” Both athletes are excited for tight racing in their largest fleet of the year.

Brooke Wilson and Evie Haseldine will join them in the FX fleet, marking another new pairing for the 2025 season. Wilson transitions from the ILCA6, while Haseldine brings valuable international racing experience. Australian Sailing Futures athletes, Mina Ferguson and Dervla Duggan, will also gain critical exposure at this level.

The 49er class features Otto Henry and Shaun Connor, who have shown impressive progress in their first season together, including a top 10 finish at Kieler Woche. Harry Price and Max Paul will compete in their first 49er World Championships as a pair, looking to build on their gold fleet finish from the European Championships. Paul remarked on the high-caliber competition, noting the challenge of qualifying in a fleet that includes Olympic medallists.

The Australian line-up also includes Jack Ferguson and Jack Hildebrand, the 2024 U23 World Champions, as they look to make their mark. Other entrants include Daniel Links and Keizo Tomishima, alongside Kurt Hansen and Charlie Zeeman.

Over the next week, the Mediterranean Sea is expected to provide varying conditions, with lighter winds anticipated initially, followed by stronger breezes as the competition progresses. The Nacra 17 fleet is set for two days of qualifying, while the skiff classes will engage in three days of qualifying before moving to the finals to crown new World Champions.

For further details, the entry lists for the skiff and Nacra classes can be viewed through the following links: Skiff Entry List and Nacra Entry List.

49er – 87 Entries

49erFX – 54 Entries

Nacra 17 – 43 Entries

#AustralianSailingTeam #SailingNews #Cagliari2025

Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here

Want to see what we’ve written about Australian Sailing lately? Click here