The Bay of Islands Awaits Global ILCA Sailing Elite for Stellar 2026 Nationals Showdown

A thrilling event is on the horizon as the world’s top ILCA sailors anchor their sights on the Bay of Islands, gearing up for the spectacle of the 2026 ILCA Nationals. The competition boasts of an undeniably upstanding lineup of personalities that are nothing short of sailing royalty.

In the rather magnetic attraction of the Bay of Island Yacht Club at Paihia, the 2026 NZ ILCA Nationals promises four electrifying days of high-quality sailing contests. The event, slated to run from the 14th to the 18th of January 2026, anticipates a robust turnout of nearly 100 boats with a comprehensive representation of the best ILCA athletes New Zealand has seen in many years.

The ILCA 6 Open division is no less sizzling. World-class athletes including Erika Reineke (USA) and Frances Beebe (AUS) bring their craft to the fore, challenging last NZ Olympic representative Greta Pilkington and former Men’s ILCA 6 world champion George Lane, for an indispensable flavour of excitement.

A new generation of sailors, including the 2025 U17 Women’s World ILCA 6 champion Chloe Turner and the recent NZ youth worlds representative Tom Pilkington, also grace the contest, adding an extra layer of intrigue.

In the Masters and ILCA 4 categories, seasoned sailor Phil Wild will be looking to protect his title, while Ellie Tapper and Kiera Dimock, fresh from the Oceania champs in Australia, carry the ILCA 4 torch.

The races are set to launch on Thursday, 15th January, with ten adrenaline-infused events slated to commence at 1 pm. For the first time in a NZ ILCA event, live tracking will be available, dishing out real-time stats and updates for zealous fans and followers.