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New combinations and new equipment, but the same top-quality racing.
That is the expectation for the 2025 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland in just over two weeks, the latest instalment of the country’s premier youth and Olympic classes event, which sees top international talent compete alongside some of New Zealand’s best emerging sailors.
This year's regatta will again be hosted by Torbay Sailing Club from 28 February to 2 March, with more than 200 sailors expected to compete.
Among them are several Paris Olympians, including iQFOiLers Josh Armit and Veerle ten Have, as well as ILCA sailors Greta Pilkington and Tom Saunders.
Armit narrowly missed out on a medal in his first Olympic Games, finishing fourth in the men’s windfoil fleet, with ten Have securing a top-10 finish in the women's event. Saunders placed seventh overall in the men’s dinghy, while 21-year-old Pilkington showed strong potential for the future.
The windfoilers will be some of the most closely watched fleets at Torbay, where they will be using the new sail sizes adopted by World Sailing earlier this year.
The changes mean women and youth women have changed from the 8m² sail to a new 7.3m² sail, while men have switched from the 9m² sail to an 8m² sail. This move aims to make the class more inclusive for athletes of all body sizes, enhancing accessibility and easing progression from youth to senior classes. Both categories will continue using the existing 4.90m mast to align with the revised sail sizes.
Yachting New Zealand men's windfoil coach Nathan Handley said the transition has been smoother than expected.
"It’s still early days, but Josh and Eli (Liefting) are enjoying the new sails. They feel it’s a much more powerful setup than they initially expected, but we won’t know for sure until we’ve lined up against some of the world’s best competitors," Handley said.
The Kiwis have been training with members of the Australian windfoiling team recently, including Marseille silver medallist Grae Morris.
Morris also competed in the recent Windfoil New Zealand national championships at Royal Akarana Yacht Club, where he finished first in the men's division, followed by Liefting and Armit.
Armit and Liefting, who claimed a bronze medal at the under-23 world championships in Switzerland last year, are set to battle it out for top honours at Sail Auckland.
Tom Saunders and George Gautrey headline the ILCA 7 fleet for Oceanbridge Sail Auckland. Photos / World Sailing
Another tight contest is expected between Saunders and world championships bronze medallist George Gautrey, who was pipped by Saunders for the sole ILCA 7 spot in Marseille.
Both sailors have been training with former European champion, Britain's Michael Beckett.
Pilkington will be tough to beat in the ILCA 6 fleet after dominating the national championships in Nelson a fortnight ago.
The 49er fleet is more open than ever, with four talented young teams - Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren, Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan, Campbell Stanton and Will Shapland, and Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush - set to battle it out in the absence of Olympic silver medallists Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie.
Meanwhile, Yachting New Zealand youth and events manager Sam Mackay has urged sailors who have yet to enter to register, as entries close tomorrow (February 14) at 5pm.
He is also seeking volunteers to help during the regatta in roles such as registration, mark laying, safety boat operations, and timekeeping.
"We’re particularly interested in hearing from anyone with a vessel suitable for use as a start or finish boat," Mackay said.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a top regatta in the country. We couldn’t run these events without volunteers, and it can be a really rewarding experience. With lots of traffic on the water, any help would be greatly appreciated."
All volunteers will receive lunch and a regatta T-shirt.
Volunteer registration can be found here, and all information for competitors, including the notice of race and entry form, can be found here.
