NSWIS sailors set sail for LA 2028 at Nacra 17 European Championships

The Nacra 17 European Championships now underway in Palermo, Sicily, marks the first major international regatta for Australian sailors in the new Olympiad on the road to the LA 2028 Olympics.

Paris 2024 Olympians Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown (pictured below) – both New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Scholarship athletes – return to the start line, continuing their Olympic aspirations as they set their sights on LA 2028. Joining them are Australian Sailing Pathway Team members Ruben and Rita Booth, who have shown strong results over the past year and are poised to compete at this high level.

Twenty teams from thirteen nations will take to the waters in Palermo for an event that also serves as a testing ground for new racing formats and courses.

This year, reaching starts will be trialled, mirroring the high-performance style of iQFoil and SailGP competitions.

Additionally, the traditional top-10 medal race format will be replaced by a match-race final for the top two boats. In this format, the overall leader enters with an advantage, needing only one win to secure the title, while the other competitor must win both races to triumph.

Australian Sailing Team Technical Director, Michael Blackburn, emphasised the importance of sustained racing experience for these emerging athletes.

“A cohort of our team missed out on international racing opportunities during COVID. Although this was a few years ago, we know that big-race experience is crucial and builds gradually over time,” Blackburn noted.

“It’s fantastic to see Brin, Rhiannan, Ruben, and Rita so committed to gaining this experience. Competing during this quieter period in the Olympic cycle allows them to make significant strides against seasoned competitors.”

Up to 13 races scheduled before the final series on 10 November.

Australian Sailing Team.

Main Photo: Mark Lloyd