LA 2028 groundwork

Australia’s Olympic sailing squads have completed five weeks of training and competition in Los Angeles, building valuable experience for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Photography by Lexi Pline

13 August 2026

The Australian Sailing Team has wrapped up an intensive five-week training and competition block in Los Angeles following the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta.

The program included three Sailing Grand Slam events and gave athletes across all 10 Olympic classes valuable racing and training time at the future LA 2028 Olympic sailing venue.

Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown led the Australian results at San Pedro, finishing fifth overall in the Nacra 17 after a strong week of racing out of the Port of Los Angeles.

Australian Sailing Team teammates Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman finished ninth, securing another top-10 result this season.

“It was a pretty challenging week. Two days inside and the rest outside are two very different racecourses,” Liddell said.

The Los Angeles campaign gave Australian sailors (Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown featured) valuable racing experience in the waters that will host Olympic competition in 2028. CREDIT: Lexi Pline

“Conditions that will suit us, but we just didn’t quite execute. However, we finished the regatta top five, so pretty happy with that.”

For Paris 2024 Olympians Liddell and Brown, time spent racing at the future Olympic venue provided an important opportunity to understand the local conditions.

“It was absolutely amazing being able to get some time on the water on the LA course,” Brown said.

“Quite similar to a few places at home, so it’s nice to know that we’ve been working in the right kind of conditions. Just need to execute a few starts, so we’ll be going home to work on that a little bit prior to 2028.”

The Australian Nacra 17 squad will now return home for an extended domestic training program, with international crews expected to join the group in Australia.

Going back home now and we’ll probably be home for the whole summer really. It’s a big domestic season of training,” Liddell said.

“There are only a few boats in Australia, but we’re going to have a few international teams come across, create a nice tight-knit training group. Heaps of time on the water and enjoy that sunshine back home.”

In the 49erFX, Tash Bryant stepped in for Laura Harding alongside Annie Wilmot. The pair advanced to the Finals Series and finished 10th overall, gaining further experience on the future Olympic medal-race course.

Brooke Wilson and Evie Haseldine finished 15th overall.

Australian crews tested themselves against international competition during the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta (Harry Price and Max Paul featured). CREDIT: Lexi Pline

In the 49er fleet, Harry Price and Max Paul narrowly missed the Finals Series, finishing 11th and just one point outside the top 10.

The pair spent much of the opening half of the regatta in podium contention before encountering a more challenging second half.

Beyond racing, the extended California campaign allowed Australian athletes, coaches and support staff to develop their knowledge of the two Olympic sailing venues that will be used at LA 2028.

The team also continued to develop its onshore planning and infrastructure, with two visits from the Australian Olympic Committee helping progress preparations and strengthen local relationships ahead of the Games.

The five-week block forms part of the Australian Sailing Team’s long-term LA 2028 campaign, with knowledge gathered in Los Angeles set to inform future training and competition programs.

Australian results – San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta

Nacra 17 – 21 entries

5th – Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown (Australian Sailing Team)
9th – Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman (Australian Sailing Team)
15th – Jake Liddell and Niamh Meehan (Australian Sailing Squad)

49er – 31 entries

11th – Harry Price and Max Paul (Australian Sailing Team)
20th – Kurt Hansen and Charlie Zeeman (Australian Sailing Futures)

49erFX – 18 entries

10th – Tash Bryant and Annie Wilmot
15th – Brooke Wilson and Evie Haseldine

Full results are available from the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta website.

Key details

Team: Australian Sailing Team
Campaign: LA 2028 Olympic Games
Location: Los Angeles, California
Training block: Five weeks
Event: San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta
Olympic classes: All 10 classes represented during the broader campaign
Best Australian result: Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown – fifth, Nacra 17
Other top-10 results: Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman – ninth, Nacra 17; Tash Bryant and Annie Wilmot – 10th, 49erFX
Olympic venue: Port of Los Angeles / San Pedro