Harken 505, OK and 470 Class Australian Championships at Fremantle Sailing Club - Days 1 & 2
by Jonny Fullerton of Regatta Services 21 Jan 04:55 UTC
19-23 January 2026
2026 Harken 505, OK & 470 Australian Nationals at Fremantle © Tom Hodge Media
Fremantle SC has organised a joint Australian National Championship for three classes including the 5o5, OK Dinghy and 470 at a renowned first class sailing venue on the Indian Ocean coast of West Australia.
A compact but highly competitive fleet of 30 5o5's travelled from around the country from West Australia, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales and a handful of internationals representing Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Sweden and the US took to the aquamarine warm waters off Fremantle for five days of glamour racing in what has been described by many high profile sailors as one of the best sailing venues in the world, confirmed by teams and thousands of general public watching the SailGP regatta the weekend before.
The 5o5's are joined by a strong fleet of 40 OK Dinghies from around the globe and a handful of aspiring Olympic pathway development sailors in the 470 class to boost the numbers to around 75 boats overall.
A couple of world class SailGP sailors could not resist the temptation to wriggle into their trapeze harnesses and race in this classic of all high performance dinghies.
Former world champion and local WA sailor Luke Payne, jumped off the Danish SailGP entry to team up with his world champion helmsman Pete Nicholas to have yet another go on home waters.
Olympic gold medallist Stu Bithel (GBR) sailed with the victorious Emirates GBR SailGP team last weekend, where he teamed up with former gold olympic medallist buddy Dylan Fletcher. Stu decided to spend a few more days in sailing paradise by jumping into the front seat of a 5o5 for some real sailing. Skipper Michael Wilson from the Isle of Man in the UK has chartered a boat to sail here in Fremantle.
Former world and Australian champions from around the country are in town to join in the fun including Chris Paterson the wiry Scotsman (who's moustache is easily big enough to hike out of a 5o5)! Chris is a multiple Australian and former world champion in the class. Other class champions include Mike Quirk from NSW and Malcolm Higgins one of a family of 5o5 legends from South Australia.
Former Olympic gold medallist from Fremantle in West Australia, Tessa Parkinson has teamed up with husband and top local 5o5 sailor Thor Schoenfoff and is a hot prospect despite being out of practice for some time. Tessa is one of a few female sailors racing, showing just how inclusive the 5o5 class is.
There are a handful of sailors making the long journey from colder countries such as the UK, Germany, Sweden and Canada adding an international flavour.
Canadian sailor Alexander Meller has come all the way from Kingston, Ontario where he has left behind negative 0 degree temperatures for 40c melting scorchers. He has quickly adopted the slip slop slap advice for overseas visitors.
The regatta has 5 days of racing scheduled with two races a day planned. The three fleets have separate starts but share a trapezoid course. The 5o5's use their traditional gate starts.
After a morning briefing the first days action was a peach of a day with 15 - 18 knots of SW breeze and the accompanying Freo short chop. The 5o5 fleet enjoyed some screaming down wind sailing to complete the two lap course in around the target time of 45 minutes.
Race 1 was impressively won by Malcolm Higgins & Jesse Mitton from BSYC in South Australia followed by former world champs Pete Nicholas and Luke Payne (RFBYC / GKSS). Third across the line was Tessa Parkinson and Thor Schoenhoff from Fremantle SC.
Race 2 was won by the former world champs Pete Nicholas and Luke Payne followed by a great performance by the Americans, Douglas Hagan & Paul von Grey (PCYC) in second. Third on the podium was Mal Higgins & Jesse Mitton.
After an excellent start to the regatta local sailors Tessa Parkinson and Thor Schoenhoff suffered rudder damage and had to retire from race 2. A couple of other boats limped home for sail repairs care of Andrew 'hips' Harry at the local North Sails loft. (event sponsor).
Day two was a slightly later start waiting for the sea breeze to fill so sailors had to keep out of the intense heat ashore in the cool of the sundowner deck. Races 3 and 4 were sailed in a softer 10 - 13 knot breeze from 210 degrees, the classic summer direction here in Fremantle.
Slightly less waves so speeds down a bit on day 1 but some tactical racing resulted in another glamour day on the water.
Michael Babbage and James Mcallister (NCYC) NSW crossed first in this one followed by local sailors Nicholas Mariani and Jake Bessen (Fremantle SC). 3rd again was Mal Higgins & Jesse Mitton from BSYC.
Race 4 immediately followed as the breeze softened slightly at the end of the day. Pete Nicholas and Luke Payne (RFBYC / GKSS) were back to winning ways to just top the overall leaderboard after two days of racing.
Nicholas Mariani and Jake Bessen (FSC) were a well earned second with Mal Higgins & Jesse Mitton in their customary third place.
The OK Dinghy fleet take a lay day on Wednesday but the 5o5's and 470's are scheduled to continue with another 2 races on another scorching day.
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