2026 New Zealand ILCA Nationals, Bay of Islands
Race tracking, with the assistance from YNZ.
Final Day 4 - Beckett and Reineke crowned champions as gale force winds cancel racing
With a gale warning in place and 45 knot gusts on the course area by 9am there was no question of any racing being possible on the final day on the 2026 NZ ILCA Nationals. With the early cancellation overnight results were finalised, the prize giving was completed and competitors were on the road before lunch, all happy with 8 excellent races having been completed to deliver a top quality contest.
In the world class ILCA 7 fleet World No 1 Micky Beckett (UK) added his name to the prestigious National Championship trophy, with its list of past champions reading like a who's who of New Zealand sailing including Russell Coutts, Dean Barker and more recently current GP 50 stars Andy Maloney and Sam Meech. World No 5 Duko Bos (NED) was runner up, just a single point behind Micky, with current world No 3 Finn Lynch (IRL) just one further point behind in 3rd. Top kiwi was George Gautrey in 4th, with the top 5 completed by Singapores Ryan Lo. Zach Stibbe took the U21 category from Sam Clark, with Liam Dimock 3rd. In the ILCA 7 masters former world Laser champion, Grand Master Nik Burfoot prevailed ahead of Aussie visitor Sean Atherton-Feeny (GM) with ex ILCA masters world champ Scott Leith 3rd overall and the leading Master. Leading Apprentice Master was Tim Pitcaithly from Nelson while Pupuke's Nick Page was the leading Great Grand Master.
American star Erika Reineke was crowned ILCA 6 open champion, with New Zealand 2024 Olympic rep Greta Pilkington 2nd. Third overall was Australian visitor Frances Beebe. Ex ILCA 6 mens world champ George Lane was 4th overall, just ahead of leading youth Aaron Begic, who showed great form to prevail over 2nd and 3rd youths Toby Dunn and Tom Pilkington. Current U17 World ILCA girls champion Chloe Turner was victorious in the youth girls division from visitors Olivia Aitken (AUS) and Maja Jacob (GER). Chloe was also awarded the new Garth Briden trophy in recognition of her outstanding contribution to NZ ILCA sailing over the last year.
After a great contest in the ILCA 4 it was Nathan Soper who was crowned champion from Ava Wu and third placed Sofia Turner, with Oceania solidarity sailors Ellie Tapper and Kiera Dimock 4th and 5th overall.
In the ILCA 6 Masters defending champion Phil Wild (M) produced an emphatic display with 7 wins in 8 races to take the title from a consistent Dave Johnson (M) second overall. Leading Grand Master Werner Hennig was 3rd overall. Whakatane's Graeme Tee won the Great Grand Master's and Phillip Bennett the Apprentice Master division.
While it was unfortunate that no racing was possible on the final day there was no question that all 100 sailors enjoyed an absolutely top quality contest. Marvellous conditions for the first 3 days of the contest, excellent race management led by RO Andrew Kearney and fantastic hosting from the team at Bay of Island Yacht Club delivered a fist class contest.
Day 3 - The Bay of Island provides world class conditions for the worlds best
Another superb days racing for the 100 boat fleet at the 2026 NZ ILCA nationals, being held in the stunning Bay of Islands. Today we were treated to a lovely 15 knot easterly, blue skies and a nice rolling swell with choppy waves, which all combined to provide interesting beats and excellent surfing downwind. The open ocean conditions and excellent courses provided the ideal ingredients for top quality racing and all fleets delivered, all completing 3 competitive races today.
There is an extremely tight contest at the top of the world class ILCA 7 fleet, which enjoyed very tight racing in the leading bunch all day. Just 2 points now separate the top 3 overall. World No 1 Micky Beckett (UK) now leads after placing 3rd in all 3 of todays races. One point back is overnight leader, world No 5 Duko Bos (NED), who's best placing today was a 2nd in the days last race. Star of the day was current world No 3 Finn Lynch (IRL), who won the days last 2 races and sits just one point behind Duko overall. Kiwi George Gautrey and Singapores Ryan Lo make up the top 5, with both still within striking distance of the leaders. Zach Stibbe is leading the U21 category and is 10th overall. He has opened up a commanding 30 point lead over 2nd placed U21 Sam Clark, with Liam Dimock lying 3rd in that group. Behind the international stars there was also close racing within the ILCA 7 masters fleet. It continues to be led by Nik Burfoot (GM). He was very consistent again today and consolidated his lead over Aussie visitor Sean Atherton-Feeny (GM) who holds a narrow points margin over ex ILCA masters world champ Scott Leith (M).
In the ILCA 6 Open it was Greta Pilkington's day. She followed up a 3rd in the first race with two bullets to close the gap on the leader, American Erika Reineke, who had a consistent day in the top bunch but could not match Greta today. Third overall is Australian visitor Frances Beebe, who won todays opening race, while ex ILCA 6 mens world champ George Lane is back up to 4th overall, leading the ILCA open mens division from Miro Luxford. A continuing impressive performance from Aaron Begic sees him 5th overall and he continues to lead the youth category from Toby Dunn and Tom Pilkington. Chloe Turner was right in the mix overall with a 5th in the first race today and solid performance in races 2 and 3 to continue to convincingly lead the youth girls from visitors Olivia Aitken (AUS) and Maja Jacob (GER).
In the ILCA 4 Nathan Soper, Ava Wu and Sofia Turner continued their battle royal. Nathan won two today and continues to lead overall from Ava, who won the days 3rd race, while Sofia remains right on their heels just a few of points further back. Oceania solidarity sailors Ellie Tapper and Kiera Dimock had solid days to be 4th and 5th overall.
In the ILCA 6 Masters defending champion Phil Wild (M) continued his domination, winning all 3 races from Dave Johnson (M), who is a solid second overall. Leading GM Werner Henig continues to holds onto 3rd overall while the leading GGM's Graeme Tee has moved into 4th overall.
For the final day tomorrow 2 races are scheduled. The forecast is for strong easterlies, which if they eventuate may make getting any more racing a challenge.
Day 2 - Sea breeze stunner delivers close racing
The sea breeze filled in just before todays scheduled 1pm start time, providing ideal conditions for todays 3 races for the 100 boat ILCA fleets to be completed on a warm, sunny, stunning Bay of Islands day. The sea breeze never got to much over 10 knots and there were plenty of shifts and light patches to ensure it was anything but a straightforward days racing for everyone. It tended to be a left hand favoured course all day, with those experimenting with the right hand corner of the course generally disappearing into a black hole.
World No 1 ranked Micky Beckett (UK) had the best of the day in the ILCA 7 fleet, winning the first 2 races and getting 3rd in the days final race to close to within a point of day 1 leader Duko Bos (NED), who bagged two 2nd's and a 6th to just hold onto the overall lead. The top two are followed by Finn Lynch (IRL) , Ryan Lo (SIN) and leading kiwi George Gautrey, who's 12th in the days first race dropped him a bit down the order. Kiwi under 21 sailors Caleb Armit and Zach Stibbe both put together consistent days just behind the leading pack to sit 6th and 7th overall ahead of two other international visitors, Haruto Kuroda (JPN) and Ewan McMahon (IRL). Ex Laser World Champ Nik Burfoot has built up a solid 18 point lead in the ILCA 7 masters, ahead of very consistent Aussie GM visitor Sean Atherton-Feeny and multi past ILCA masters world champ Scott Leith (M).
In the ILCA 6 Erika Reineke is really showing her class, with two race wins and a second today to open up a good points gap over NZ Olympic rep Greta Pilkington and Australian visitor Frances Beebe. Arran Begic had a stunning afternoon with a 2nd and a 3rd in todays last 2 races to move into 4th overall and lead the youths. Miro Luxford is the leading men's open ILCA 6 sailor after George Lane got a little too keen at the start of race 5 to record a UFD. Chloe Turner leads the youth women in 12th overall, but she is right in the mix and is only a point off the top 10.
In the ILCA 4 Nathan Soper, Ava Wu and Sofia Turner are having a battle royal, with Ava winning 2 of todays races to sit just 2 points back from Nathan, with Sofia right on their heels just a couple of points further back. Both Ellie Tapper and Madi Smith broke into the top 3 in one of todays races to sit 4th and 5th overall.
In the ILCA 6 Masters defending champion Phil Wild (M) dropped a point to Dave Johnson (M) in the days first race, but then went on to win both the days other races to tighten his grip on his title defence. Leading GM Werner Henig holds onto 3rd overall while in the GGM's Graeme Tee just leads Roger Winton.
For day 3 tomorrow another 3 races are scheduled, with moderate SouthEasterlies forecast set to provide a new set of challenges for the fleet. Th discard also comes into play tomorrow, which is likely to shake up the results a little.
Day 1 - Glorious Bay of Islands conditions to stretch the legs
Two great races in solid hiking conditions today for the first day or the NZ ILCA championships, and already its clear that the form book is right on the money and there are going to be some really close contests for top honours in many of the fleets. The forecast rain held off all day and we were treated to a glorious but quite demanding 10 to 15 knot NNW breeze in the race area off Russell, with tide, shifts and light patches proving challenging even to the worlds best ILCA sailors, and sufficient for a few swimmers to take to the water in the pelotons.
In the ILCA 7 the pro's predictably led the way. Duko Bos from the Netherlands prevailed in race 1, and backed it up with a 2nd in race two to lead overall by a single point from kiwi George Gautrey, who won race two after scoring a 3rd in race 1. The top 5 after day 1 is rounded out by a trio of overseas stars, Finn Lynch (IRL), Micky Beckett (GBR) and Ryan Lo (SNG), with defending NZ champion Caleb Armit just a few points back in 6th. In the ILCA 7 Masters ex open world champ Nik Burfoot holds a narrow lead over impressive Aussie visitor Sean Atherton-Feeney (GM), who is followed by past multiple ILCA master World Champion Scott Leith (M).
In the ILCA 6 Open it was again the stars that shone. With exactly the same race results as the ILCA 7 leaders, leaders Erika Reineke (USA) took the first race and followed with 2nd in race two while and Frances Beebe (AUS) the took the second race after placing 3rd in the opening race. They are closely followed by NZ women's Olympic rep Greta Pilkington and ex ILCA 6 men's World Champ George Lane (NZ) in 4th. This leading bunch is followed by a tight group of youth sailors, with Australian Jackson Black leading the NZ trio of Aaron Begic, Toby Dunn and Miro Luxford, who are all tied on points. They are followed by leading Youth Women, current U17 world champ Chloe Turner.
In the ILCA 6 Masters defending champion Phil Wild (M) managed pick up where he left off last year and continue his dominance of the group with 2 bullets, closely followed by Raglan's Dave Johnson(M) who was 2nd in both races. Leading GM Werner Henig is 3rd overall, a point up on Dunedin's Dragos Blaga, while leading GGM Graeme Tee from Whakatane is 5th overall.
A great contest is already developing in the ILCA 4, with Nathan Soper, Amy Wu and Sofia Turner all tied on points at the top of the table. They are followed by a tie for 4th between our two recent Oceania solidarity sailors, Ellie Tapper and Kiera Dimock, while Louis Yang, Madi Smith and Patrick Kell traded places to be close on points after the first days racing.
Day two looks like an interesting day weather wise, with very different predictions for both strength and direction across a range of computer models, so it looks likely to be a challenging 3 races for all, sailors and the race committee alike.