The 2025 420 Australian Championship was sailed on Sydney Harbour last week (January 19-23) and brought together an enthusiastic and competitive group of sailors from around the country.
The host club, Woollahra Sailing Club, put on a marvellous regatta and the weather gods were mostly kind.
The week of racing had a bit of everything: winds from 5-25 knots, flat seas to lumpy ones, and even big swell when the race was conducted near Sydney Heads. Competitors also had to deal with transiting ocean liners, oil tankers and the usual array of ferries. This was an eye-opener for some of the visitors from interstate, but all handled it well. It was a real test of the sailors’ skills, teamwork, adaptability and stamina. In the end it was a clean sweep of the podium positions for the crews from NSW. Local knowledge never hurts.
Will Wilkinson and Clare Cini (NSW) on Cini, 56916 had a fantastic regatta winning 7 out of 10 races to be crowned the 2025 Australian 420 champions.
In second place were Spencer McKay and Luca Alexander and in third, following a solid final day of racing, were Hanako and Goro Tomishima.
A highlight of the presentation was the presence of dual Olympic gold medallist in the 470 class, Malcolm Page and successful offshore sailor Rupert Henry, fresh from his 2024 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Double Handed win. The sailors lapped up their stories and thoroughly enjoyed talking to them during and after dinner.
Australian Sailing President, Shevaun Bruland, was also in attendance and spoke of how proud she was of the young sailors and wished them all good fortune on their future journeys.
The smiles on all the sailors faces by the end of the event was reflective of a fun week of sailing in Sydney. Everyone looks forward to catching up at the next regatta – the Victorian State Championship at Safety Beach (8-10 March).
Special thanks must go to Lisa Wilkinson (420 NSW Treasurer) who, along with Dan Smith (WSC Sailing Manager), pulled it all together and provided a fantastic regatta experience for all.
Thanks also to our sponsors, Musto and North Sails, race officials, volunteers and parents who helped in so many ways.
Click here for the full results: https://www.woollahrasailingclub.org.au/series/10569
By Matt Wilkinson I Australian 420 Class Association
Photographer – Marg Fraser Martin
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