Seventh National Title for Wearn in Hobart
by Lisa Darmanin / Australian Sailing Team 9 Jan 05:10 UTC
3-8 January 2026
Matt Wearn wins seventh ILCA 7 Australian title in Hobart - 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship © Jane Austin
The 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open Championships have wrapped up after a demanding and highly competitive week of racing on Hobart's River Derwent.
In the ILCA7, it was once again Matt Wearn who stamped his authority on the fleet, securing his seventh national title after a week that rewarded consistency, resilience, and experience.
Reflecting on the significance of the win, Wearn said, "It's always quite prestigious to win the Australian national title. I think you look back on the trophy every time you get it, and you reminisce on some of the great sailors that have their name on it. So, it's always nice to win this one."
He also highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting, "I think apart from the World Championships, it's the longest regatta we do of the year, so the better sailors usually come out on top. It does mean quite a lot for us, so it's nice to take this one home."
True to Hobart form, the conditions played a defining role throughout the week, testing the fleet across a wide range of scenarios. Wearn summed it up, "Tough conditions, it was really shifty, gusty, a bit of light wind and a bit of strong wind. So, made for a really tough week."
Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium places was fiercely contested, with 2024 National Champion Zac Littlewood finishing second, while fellow West Australian Ethan McAullay rounded out the top three, a clear demonstration of the depth and internal competition within Australia's ILCA7 squad.
The ILCA6 fleet was equally compelling, with strong international representation adding further intensity to the racing. Past World Champions Emma Plasschaert (Belgium) and Maria Érdi (Hungary) claimed the top two positions, reinforcing the global calibre of the event. Australia's Zoe Thomson delivered a strong final day to secure third overall, with Mara Stransky narrowly missing the podium in fourth.
Thomson reflected on a week that offered valuable learning across both training and racing. "We had a really good week here in Hobart with the training and racing. We've had quite a variety of conditions and really close racing."
"I'm really happy with this result," she added. "We've had a big summer, so I'm happy to have put together a really good week and looking forward to the training ahead of Europe to work on a few things that have been highlighted here."
With the domestic season providing a strong platform for the 2026 international circuit, Zoe shared, "Next up, we have two big camps in Sydney before we head over for the European season. The peak event this year will be the World Championships in Ireland, so everything we'll be doing is working towards that as well as heading over to LA to test out the new venue."
The 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open Championships showcased just how hotly contested the ILCA classes are in Australia, while also highlighting the value of international competitors who made the journey south to test themselves against one of the strongest domestic fleets in the world.
Full list of results can be found at sailingresults.net/?ID=82266