49er, FX & Nacra 17 Class Off-Season Update
by 49er & Nacra 17 Sailing 4 Feb 00:08 AEDT
Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie (NZL) - Silver Medalists - Mens Skiff - Paris2024 Olympic Sailing Event - Marseille - August 2, 2024 © World Sailing / Lloyd Images
The skiff and multihull world never stands still — and as we head deeper into the new Olympic cycle, the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 fleets are already seeing major shifts, fresh partnerships and exciting new steps toward LA 2028.
A new era for New Zealand's 49er programme
After a highly successful Paris 2024 campaign, silver medallists Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie have stepped away from full-time Olympic campaigning. While this closes their own chapter, the New Zealand 49er programme remains very much alive, with a deep fleet of teams already active and preparing for a busy national season ahead, including the upcoming Nationals.
Life has moved quickly for both sailors since the Games. McKenzie is now based in Sydney, working full-time as an engineer, while McHardie has completed his building apprenticeship and is now a qualified carpenter. Away from the racecourse, both have also reached major personal milestones, with engagements announced and weddings on the horizon over the next year.
While the structure of everyday life has changed, the competitive pull of sailing hasn't disappeared. McKenzie has spoken openly about enjoying the routine and balance that comes with stepping away — while still missing the travel, intensity and edge of high-level racing.
That connection to performance sailing continues through McKenzie's new role with the New Zealand Black Foils, where he has joined the team in a shoreside support capacity alongside former 49er coach Matt Steven. Combining his sailing background with his engineering skillset, McKenzie will travel with the team and contribute to performance analysis and race support.
Although both sailors are now exploring different professional paths, their impact on the 49er class — and on New Zealand's skiff legacy — remains clear. With a strong group of emerging crews already stepping into the spotlight, the foundations they helped build continue to shape the next generation.
Training camps light up the off-season
With winter biting in the north, many teams have already gone chasing sunshine — and the training hubs are busy.
Lanzarote is once again a focal point for the 49er fleet, hosting a strong mix of German, French and Polish teams. Among those on the water are Paris Olympians Jakob Meggendorfer and Andreas Spranger from Germany, alongside France's Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin, with Polish skiff teams including Staniul and Sztorch adding to the depth and intensity of training.
Across the multihulls, several, including world championship bronze medallists Scipio and Willemijn, have been clocking serious mileage in Lanzarote, alongside the Austrian Nacra squad as preparations ramp up across Europe.
In the 49erFX fleet, German teams have been spreading across multiple venues — with groups training in Sicily, Cagliari, Vilamoura and New Zealand — taking advantage of varied conditions and strong international training partners as the season builds.
Meanwhile, in the wider foiling and multihull world, several Nacra 17 sailors are building race sharpness, with the Liddell brothers currently leading a fleet of 66 boats at the F18 World Championship. The skills and experience gained in the Nacra 17 — from boat handling to foiling tactics — are proving highly transferable across classes, giving these sailors a strong foundation for speed and racecraft in any multihull fleet.
Cecilia Low returns to the 49erFX — with a new teammate
A familiar name is back on the FX circuit. Rui Qi "Cecilia" Low has returned to 49erFX racing, this time teaming up with Elizabeth Lin.
Low brings a wealth of experience to the boat, including an Olympic campaign at Tokyo 2020 where she and Kimberly Lim became the first Singaporean sailors to qualify for an Olympic medal race — finishing 10th overall, the nation's best sailing result to date. Her career also includes an Asian Games gold medal and multiple World Cup appearances.
Announcing their partnership, Low and Lin shared their excitement about finally sailing together after years of talking about it — with eyes already turning toward major regional goals and the long road ahead. It's a comeback that adds depth, experience and momentum to the FX fleet.
Closing one chapter, opening another in the 49erFX
After five intense years together, Lara Granier and Amélie Riou have announced the end of their Olympic campaign. Following a narrow miss on Paris 2024 selection and a period of reflection after Cagliari, the pair chose to close a project that brought significant growth, learning and shared highs — both on and off the water.
But the story doesn't stop there.
Amélie Riou is already back on the start line, teaming up with Manon Peyre in a new 49erFX partnership. With the World Championship in Quiberon in May as their first major milestone, the focus is firmly on building strong foundations and seeing how far the new combination can go. Expect a busy few months — and don't be surprised to see familiar faces continuing to cross over into America's Cup and SailGP projects as well.
New partnership announced in the Nacra 17
Another early-cycle move comes from the multihull fleet, with Sarah Newberry-Moore announcing a new Nacra 17 partnership for the LA 2028 campaign. She will now sail alongside Hoël Menard, as the new team begins building toward the next Olympic Games.
With training already under way, it's another sign of how quickly new combinations are forming across the fleet.
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta
The Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta saw strong international representation across the 49er fleet. Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush — last year's Open European Champions — took the overall win, with Swiss Olympians and SailGP sailors Sebastian Schneiter and Arno De Planta finishing second. Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn came in third, while the American team of Nevin Snow and Ian Macdiarmid placed fourth.
All of these teams are expected to be back in action at the upcoming New Zealand 49er Nationals before competing at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma de Mallorca in March. See the results.
Eyes on the horizon: Ruggero Tita
Ruggero Tita has been dropping hints recently about a potential return to the Nacra 17 circuit. Nothing official has been announced yet, but the sailing world is watching closely — and curiosity is building around who he might team up with for the next cycle.
See more at 49er.org/49er-fx-nacra-17-class-off-season-update