Fair, safe and fun racing – that's the plan for the 2026 ILCA Oceania Solidarity Squad
by Jane Austin / RYCT Media 1 Jan 00:59 PST
1-8 January 2026
The 2026 ILCA Oceania Solidarity Squad prepping for the week ahead at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania © Jane Austin
The 2026 ILCA (International Laser Class Association) Oceania Solidarity Squad has gathered from New Zealand and around Australia gathered in Hobart today for the first day of the 2026 Oceania and Australian Open and Youth Championships.
Attending a welcome session with event organisers and sponsors this morning, the squad was briefed by Principal Race Officer, Colin Dods with Dods sharing his three key on-water deliverables for the sailors for the championship.
"Chiefly my job is to ensure my on-water teams give you the best sailing experience you can get on the water.
"There are three boxes I want to tick for you - that the racing is fair, that the racing is safe, and most importantly, that you have fun.
"You are here to have fun, to enjoy each other's company, and take away a love of sailing, and you'll make lifelong friends," said Dods.
Australian ILCA Chairman, Ken Hurling, OAM, welcoming the eight female sailors to the event talked about the origin of the Solidarity Program, which began after receiving a grant from ILCA.
"We had a grant from ILCA a few years ago for $7,500 USD a year for Oceania.
"Our aim was always to run a program for young women, so we started our first program at Georges River in New South Wales, in 2023.
"We want to keep it going forever," said Hurling.
Jo and Nick Ogden, owners of the principal sponsor, Performance Sailcraft, attended the welcome session overseeing the boat draw and giving further background about the ILCA dinghy.
"These boats (the ILCA 4) were all designed 55 years ago by two Canadian guys, Ian Bruce and Bruce Kirby, and the boats you are sailing in today are identical to the boats that Ben Ainslie won his gold medal in in Sydney in 2000.
"So, you've got an Olympic heritage boat that you're going out there [on the River Derwent] to sail in.
"As Ken said, the main thing we want you to do is to go out there and have fun and get experience.
"Single-handed sailing is a lonely sport, you are in a boat on your own, so being able to get the team together, to all have the same experience, with identical boats, it's equal, it gives you all a chance to communicate.
"Out on the water, competing in different events, you are racing against each other, but here you are working as a team.
"You've got a few years ahead of you before you try and get to Olympic level but all of you can make that, so hopefully, with the boats you've got, the training and the support that you've got, you'll have good racing, so good luck to you all," said Nick Ogden.
The 2026 ILCA Oceania Solidarity Squad is: Harper Spacey (NSW), Keira Dimock and Ellie Tapper (NZ), Matilda Tarring (QLD), Zahli Smith (SA), Cordelia Davey (TAS), Kate Edwards (VIC) and Seraphina Townson (WA).
The Solidarity Squad coach is Indy Cooper, whose role is supported by Australian Sailing.
Solidarity is about encouraging young female sailors (aged between 13 and 16 years) to participate in a world class sailing championship with the aim of igniting their passion for the sport of sailing.
Solidarity participants receive free entry to the championship and social events, a charter boat and access to a coach who will provide on water coaching and briefings ashore.
The 2026 ILCA Oceania and Australian Open and Youth Championships are hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania from 1-8 January 2026 with racing commencing on Saturday the 3rd of January 2026.
The event website is at: ryct.org.au/2026-ilca-oceania-australian-championship