A Big Year Ahead for AUS IOM Sailing
The 2026 International One Metre Class (IOM) season is shaping up as a landmark year, with a strong focus on major championship events and Australian sailors competing on the world stage. From state titles across the country to regattas across the Tasman and the ultimate test at the 2026 IOM World Championship.
Championship Racing Across Australia
At the core of the domestic season is a full program of Australian State Championships, ensuring every region hosts a premier event and providing sailors with meaningful opportunities to compete against visiting interstate sailors. These championships remain the backbone of Australian IOM sailing—events where sailors measure themselves against the best in their state and beyond.
The domestic calendar reaches its high point in August with the International One Metre Class Australian Championship, to be sailed at Kawana Waters on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. In 2026, this championship will be combined with the iconic Eddie Cowell Perpetual Trophy Regatta, traditionally one of the best-supported and most respected events on the Australian IOM calendar.
Normally held on the Sunshine Coast in August, the Eddie Cowell Perpetual Trophy Regatta has long been regarded as a benchmark event for fleet strength and competition. Its inclusion alongside the Australian Championship will undoubtedly elevate the regatta further, creating a true pinnacle event that is expected to attract the strongest national fleet of the year.
Trans-Tasman Competition
Australian's are also expected to cross the Tasman to some key events in New Zealand. In March, the NZ IOM North Island Championship at Kai Iwi Lakes offers Australian sailors an early-season overseas target at one of New Zealand’s premier sailing venues. The year then concludes in December with the NZ IOM National Championship being sailed on the South Island at Nelson on the 4th -6th.
These events continue to strengthen the trans-Tasman rivalry and provide Australian sailors with valuable international racing experience close to home.
Key Events
| Date | Event | Location | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21–22 Mar 2026 | NZ IOM North Island Championship | Kai Iwi Lakes, Northland | New Zealand |
| 28 Mar 2026 | SA IOM State Championship | Harts Mill / Port Adelaide, SA | SA |
| 15 Aug 2026 | VIC IOM Victorian State Championship | Patterson Lakes, VIC | VIC |
| 20 Aug 2026 | International One Metre Class Australian Championship (incorporating the Eddie Cowell Perpetual Trophy Regatta) |
Kawana Waters, QLD | QLD |
| 17 Oct 2026 | QLD IOM Queensland State Championship | Gladstone, QLD | QLD |
| 31 Oct 2026 | WA IOM State Championship | Bunbury, WA | WA |
| 07 Nov 2026 | TAS IOM Tasmanian State Championship | Montrose, TAS | TAS |
| 21 Nov 2026 | NSW IOM State Championship | Booragul, Lake Macquarie, NSW | NSW |
| 15–23 May 2026 | International One Metre Class World Championship | Datchet Water, United Kingdom | World |
| 04–06 Dec 2026 | NZ IOM National Championship | Nelson, New Zealand | New Zealand |
Australia on the World Stage
The international highlight of the season will be the International One Metre Class World Championship, to be sailed in May at Datchet Water in the United Kingdom. Australia will be proudly represented by a strong team of sailors lead by 2025 IOM Oceania Contintental Championship winner, Paul Jones who along with the entire team will be hoping to make a mark in the UK.
Australian Representatives – 2026 IOM World Championship
| Sailor | Country | Sail No. | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Jones | AUS | 48 | Venti |
| Aaron Farrar | AUS | 37 | V12 |
| Richard Smith | AUS | 166 | Proteus EVO |
| Gary McCarthy | AUS | 181 | GC24 |
| Glenn Dawson | AUS | 76 | V12 |
| Alex Scapens | AUS | 106 | V12 |