Steve Armitage, chief executive of Yachting New Zealand, confirmed on Monday that Auckland will once again welcome the world's best single-handed dinghy sailors, reviving one of the most gruelling and fiercely contested disciplines in the sport.
Takapuna Boating Club on Auckland's North Shore will stage the men's ILCA 7 World Championship from 29 January to 5 February 2028, with the women's ILCA 6 World Championship following from 11 to 18 February 2028. Both regattas are expected to play a key role in Olympic preparation and selection ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles later that year.
"It is part of Yachting New Zealand's long-term strategic priorities to bring world-class sailing events back to the country, and we are delighted that Auckland will host the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 World Championship," Armitage said. "We have some of the best sailing waters and ILCA sailors in the world, along with the most dedicated yacht clubs, volunteers and sailing communities anywhere. We know this will be a successful world championship and we encourage Kiwis to embrace it."
Funding for the championship flows through the Government's Major Events Fund, which supports internationally significant events that deliver strong benefits for New Zealand. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston welcomed the announcement.
"I'm proud that one of Olympic sailing's most prestigious qualifying events is coming to New Zealand, supported by the Government's Major Events funding," Upston said. "Hosting a world-class sporting event like the ILCA World Championship will boost local businesses and further strengthen New Zealand's reputation as a premier destination for elite sport."
The news arrived just one week after the official launch of Auckland's stopover for The Ocean Race in early 2027, further cementing the city's standing as a leading global sailing venue.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown connected the event directly to the city's identity. "Auckland is the City of Sails, so Auckland Council Events backing the ILCA World Championship just makes sense," he said. "It's exciting to see the return of top-tier Olympic sailing to Auckland, with the world's best ILCA sailors competing here at a key point in Olympic qualification. That creates a rare chance for local fans, clubs and young sailors to experience elite racing up close while welcoming visitors from around the globe. Hosting the championship across Takapuna and Torbay will put Auckland firmly in the international spotlight, showing what we offer both on and off the water."
A broader programme of community activities and public events is also planned in the lead-up to both regattas.
Takapuna Boating Club Commodore Wendy Baker described the hosting rights as a landmark moment for the club. "It recognises not only the quality of our sailing waters and facilities, but also the strength of our volunteer community and our long-standing commitment to supporting sailing at all levels," Baker said. "This event will put Auckland's North Shore on the global stage, inspire the next generation of New Zealand sailors and leave a lasting legacy for our club and the wider North Shore community."
New Zealand has welcomed several major sailing world championships in recent years, including the 2024 Moth World Championship and the A-Class Catamaran World Championship last year. The ILCA regattas will, however, mark the first Olympic-class world championships held in the country since the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in late 2019.
The ILCA 7 and ILCA 6, formerly known as the Laser and Laser Radial classes, are the world's most widely sailed adult and youth racing dinghies, with more than 225,000 boats across 140 countries. First designed in 1970, these single-handed craft are considered among the most physically and tactically demanding boats in competitive sailing and remain a cornerstone of the Olympic programme.
New Zealand's connection to the class runs deep. Sam Meech claimed Olympic bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, while Nik Burfoot in 1994 and Tom Saunders in 2021 have both won world championship titles. Saunders, who finished inside the top 10 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, reflected on what racing at home at such a critical juncture would mean.
"We're proud of the depth of the New Zealand ILCA fleet and the quality of our sailors and coaches," Saunders said. "To have the world's top men and women racing here is exceptionally rare, and with Olympic qualification on the line, the intensity will be even higher as everyone fights for every inch on the water."
New Zealand's leading women's ILCA 6 sailor, Greta Pilkington, became the first Kiwi to compete in the class at the Olympics in 12 years when she raced in 2024. She said the coming regatta would be unforgettable. "The ILCA is one of the most physically demanding and competitive sailing classes in the world, so competing against the best on home waters will be incredibly special," Pilkington said. "As the final world championship before LA 2028, this event carries huge significance. It's exciting to welcome the world's top ILCA sailors down under for the summer and show everything New Zealand and Takapuna have to offer."
"It's the last major test before the big dance. It doesn't get much better than this."
Mark Lyttle, president of the ILCA Class Association, said the return of the class world championship to Auckland was "long overdue". "The class is delighted that Takapuna, Auckland, has been selected to host the 2028 women's ILCA 6 and men's ILCA 7 World Championship. It is great to have our World Championships and two Olympic events back in New Zealand, a country with a proud sailing heritage and a deep connection to our class and sport," Lyttle said. "We look forward to working closely with the organising team and the local sailing community, supporting the delivery of a world-class championship both on and off the water. We wish the host every success and look forward to an exceptional championship in 2028."
