Testing the waters
Australia’s Olympic sailing athletes are racing on the waters where medals will be decided at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Photography by Australian Sailing
15 July 2026
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The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is under way at Belmont Shore, with the iQFOiL and Formula Kite fleets the first to test the future Olympic racecourse.
With two years remaining until LA 2028, the regatta gives Australia’s leading sailors an important opportunity to study the venue’s wind patterns, sea state and racing conditions.
Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris arrived in Los Angeles almost two weeks before racing to maximise his time on the Olympic waters.
The Australian iQFOiL athlete said the flat water and consistent breeze had already provided valuable insight into what competitors could expect in 2028.
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“I have been in LA for about two weeks now and am finding it pretty fun,” Morris said.
“Dead-flat water, some pretty consistent breeze and definitely pushing some good speeds. We are just having to do a bit of weed dodging, which is all part of the game.
“I am very much enjoying these conditions and feeling super strong.”
After an extended training block, Morris said he was looking forward to returning to competition and applying what he had learned at the venue.
“I have been doing a lot of training, so it will be good to put it into the real deal and get back on the start line,” he said.
There are a few things that I have my mind on, and I am mainly focused on getting my head around the Olympic waters and getting a feel for what it is going to be like in two years.”
Morris won silver on his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and said he was already counting down to his next opportunity to compete at the Games.
“To be honest, it feels like it has been a lot longer than two years since the last Olympics,” he said.
“I am really just counting down the days to the next one and hoping it comes quicker and quicker because I am frothing that feeling of being at the Olympics again and really chasing those nerves.
“I am looking forward to it all happening.”
Paris 2024 Olympian Breiana Whitehead will represent Australia in the Formula Kite women’s fleet.
Whitehead said racing at the Olympic venue well ahead of the Games was a critical part of preparing for LA 2028, particularly in a discipline where the final result can be decided in a single race.
“For sailing classes, it is so important to understand the Olympic venue and have a good prediction of what the racing is going to be like,” Whitehead said.
“With the Kite Finals format coming down to one race deciding the results, it is so important to have a clear picture of what racing is going to look like and to be really prepared for that.
“It is great to race in this event where the Olympics will be held in two years. I cannot believe it is so close.”
The Queenslander also competed at Long Beach in 2025 and returns with previous knowledge of the venue.
“I have been in Long Beach for about a week,” she said.
“It has been a nice venue to go for a kite — sunny, pretty warm and with mostly consistent conditions.
“It is going to be a good week of racing. A lot of the international fleet has made it over here, and I am keen to get back into racing and kiting at the Olympic venue.”
Oscar Timm will represent Australia in the Formula Kite men’s competition, while Rory Meehan will join Morris in the iQFOiL fleet.
Following the iQFOiL and Formula Kite racing, the Olympic classes program will move to San Pedro in the Port of Los Angeles.
The ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and 470 fleets will race from 20 to 24 July, followed by the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes from 3 to 7 August.
Australian entries
iQFOiL — 36 entries
Grae Morris — Australian Sailing Team
Rory Meehan — Australian Sailing Squad
Formula Kite Women — 24 entries
Breiana Whitehead — Australian Sailing Team
Formula Kite Men — 36 entries
Oscar Timm — State Sailing Performance Program
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