Australian ILCA sailors prepare for European Championships

Mara Stransky leading the fleet at the Princess Sofia Trophy © Beau Outteridge

Sixteen months out from the Paris Olympic Games, the European cycle of Olympic classes events start with the ILCA European Championships in Andora on the Italian Riviera, where Australians are preparing for competition in the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 classes, vying for valuable points towards selection to compete at the Games.

Racing is to take place from 12 March (Monday Australian time) to 17 March (Sunday local time).

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, Matt Wearn OAM, will lead the charge in the ILCA 7 (ex-Laser Men's). The West Australian has continued to produce the form that sealed the deal at those Games. Wearn will be a force to be reckoned with, having won both the 2018 and 2019 Europeans. He did not compete at the 2022 Europeans.

Matt Wearn at the 2022 Princess Sofia Trophy - photo © Sailing Energy

Wearn, along with fellow competitors Luke Elliott (ASS), Ethan McAullay (ASS), Zac Littlewood (ASS) and Stefan Elliott Shircore (ASF) form a strong legation of West Australian ILCA 7 sailors in Andora. They are joined by NSW sailor, Finn Alexander (ASS).

All have had their share of successes and shown promise as the journey towards Paris continues. However, the competition will, naturally, be as tough as it can be. Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and Hermann Tomasgaard (NOR), the respective Tokyo Games silver and bronze medallists are among the 192 competitors. Stipanovic also finished in the silver medal position at the 2016 Games.

The ILCA 6 (ex-Laser Radial) is led by 2020 Tokyo Olympian, Mara Stransky (AST). The Queensland sailor went on to win Gold at Kiel Week in late June 2022. However, she continues to be pushed hard by West Australians, Zoe Thomson (ASS) and Elyse Ainsworth (ASS), as well as Victorian, Casey Imeneo.

Stransky has been beaten in international competition by her three Australian compatriots. Having four strong Australian sailors has helped push the women to new levels in the past year and they will have to be at their best next week.

All three 2020 medallists from the Tokyo Games are competing. Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN), Josefin Olsson (SWE) and Marit Bouwmeester (NED) won Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively. Bouwmeester also won Gold at the 2016 Olympics and Rindom Bronze. It is an unforgiving fleet of 117.

Organised by Circolo Nautico Andora (CNA) and EurILCA, the ILCA Europeans will be held on trapezoid courses with inner and outer loops and a reach to the finish. The target time for the first boat in each race will be 50 minutes.

The Australian Team in Andora comprises:

ILCA 7

Matt Wearn
Luke Elliott
Ethan McAullay
Zac Littlewood
Finn Alexander
Stefan Elliott Shircore

ILCA 6

Mara Stranksy
Elyse Ainsworth
Zoe Thomson
Casey Imeneo

For the entry list and to follow the regatta, including full results, go to: 2023-senior.eurilca-europeans.org.