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Australian Sailing Team names 2027 World Sailing Championships Team

Australian Sailing Team

The Australian Sailing Team has named a strong 12 athlete team to contest the 2027 World Sailing Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil, in January, where sailors will have their first opportunity to secure Olympic qualification for Australia at LA2028 in the single-handed classes.

The championships will feature the ILCA 6, ILCA 7, iQFOiL and Formula Kite classes, with racing across both men’s and women’s divisions. Held every four years as the key combined World Championships in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, the 2027 event will mark the first time the single-handed and double-handed classes are contested separately. The remaining Olympic classes will compete for Olympic qualification places at the World Sailing Championships in Gdynia, Poland, in July 2027.

“The 2027 World Sailing Championships represent an important milestone on the road to LA2028, with our athletes having their first opportunity to secure Olympic quotas for the country in the single-handed classes,” said Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Iain Brambell.

“We have selected a team with a strong mix of Olympic experience and exceptional talent. Our focus is on creating the right environment for our athletes to perform at their best and put Australia in a strong position as we build towards the Games.”

Leading the Australian contingent is double Olympic Champion Matt Wearn, who will continue his campaign towards an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the ILCA7 class. Wearn will be joined in the ILCA 7 by 2025 World Championships bronze medallist Zac Littlewood and National Squad members Ethan McAullay and Isaac Schotte as they look to make a statement on the road to LA2028.

In the ILCA 6, Paris Olympian Zoe Thomson and 2020 Olympian Mara Stransky will line up alongside New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Evie Saunders and Casey Imeneo. The Australian sailors will be aiming to secure a top-16 nation finish to qualify Australia for LA2028 in the women’s single-handed class.

Australia will also have strong representation in the iQFOiL, with Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris (NSWIS) joined by 2025 U19 World Champion Rory Meehan in the men’s fleet. In the women’s division, 2026 World Championships bronze medallist Stella Bilger will compete for the Australian Sailing Team and a top-10 finish in the iQFOiL would secure Australia a quota spot for LA2028.

Rounding out the team is Paris 2024 Olympian Breiana Whitehead in the Formula Kite. Whitehead will be pursuing qualification for Australia and her second Olympic Games following a fifth-place finish at the Formula Kite European Championships earlier this year. Eight nation quotas are up for grabs at the championships for the Formula Kite.

The team has been selected through a performance-driven approach in optimising Australia’s position towards LA2028. The selectors put a strong emphasis on creating a focused environment to maximise performance outcomes, support effective team operations and manage the logistical, health and safety considerations associated with competing in Fortaleza, Brazil.

2027 World Sailing Championships Team (Fortaleza, BRA)

ILCA 6

Zoe Thomson OLY

Mara Stransky OLY

Evie Saunders (NSWIS)

Casey Imeneo

ILCA 7

Matt Wearn OAM OLY

Zac Littlewood

Ethan McAullay

Issac Schotte

Women’s iQFOiL