Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) has closed out the 2026 Cadet World Championship on Italy's Lake Garda with its best result in years, claiming a silver and a bronze in the Worlds Fleet in a fiercely contested fleet of 65 boats from around the world, marking four years in a row that RGYC has made the Worlds Fleet podium.

Garner and O'Brien Silver in a Shifty Garda

Will Garner and Jack O'Brien sailed to second overall in the two-person Cadet class, capping eleven races of unpredictable conditions on the famous Italian lake.

"It was different every day, quite tricky and shifty," Garner said of the racing. "It was extremely tough racing against 65 of the best cadet teams from around the world. Everybody had a bad race, it was important to stay focused and consistent."

For the young skipper, the result was as much about partnership as podiums. "I love being on the water as the skipper, making decisions with my crew Jack, working as a team to do the best we can," he said. "It makes me happy doing a sport that my family does as well. Being in control of the boat is exhilarating and rewarding."

Garner's individual talent was also recognised, taking home two prestigious awards: the Wilson Trophy for best helm under 16 and the Ellis Trophy for best helm under 15.

Garner was quick to credit those around him for the campaign. "My family and friends that support me" keep him motivated, he said, adding that connection is what he values most about the sport. "The best part of sailing for me is the friends and connections you make with people all over the world."

Benyan Makes it 3 Podiums in 3 Years

Jack Benyan and Farrell Meegan claimed third place, an extraordinary achievement that marks Benyan's third consecutive world championship podium finish.

The pair came from well outside the medal positions to snatch bronze on the final day. "Farrell, my crew, and I were completely blown away," Benyan said. "We were sitting sixth going into the final day of racing, so to finish on the podium was incredible."

Benyan pointed to a wild championship on the water, with conditions swinging from the reliable afternoon Ora breeze, the team trained for to the morning Pele wind that dominated racing instead. Twice the fleet was struck by the ferocious Ponale wind, bringing 40–45 knot gusts that forced race abandonment and triggered a large-scale rescue operation. "Luckily, both the Victorian and Tasmanian teams had faced similar situations before and didn't panic," he said.

Growing up by the water at Jan Juc shaped Benyan's ability to handle whatever Garda threw at him. "Growing up by the Jan Juc beach gave me confidence in all types of conditions, as well as a healthy respect for the ocean," he said.

Reflecting on his hat-trick of podiums, Benyan was humble about the achievement. "I can't believe it. I've been very fortunate to have some sensational sailors as my mentors, who have constantly advised and taught me toward these three podium finishes." He credits the tight-knit Geelong cadet community for pushing him further each year: "We're really lucky to have such a strong bond with our fellow Geelong cadet sailors. It creates healthy competition and pushes all of us to keep improving."

Preparation was key to the pair's charge up the leaderboard. "Farrell and I had been training three times a week with the other Geelong teams, and that preparation really paid off, it's what allowed us to step it up over the final three races," Benyan said.

A Golden Result for the Promotional Fleet

RGYC's success extended beyond the main podium, with Matilda Groves and Poppy Loftus, sailing for the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria,  taking out first place in the championship's Promotional Fleet.

Garner, Benyan and Groves all come through the Barwon Sports Academy program in Geelong, underlining the strength of the pathway the program provides for young sailors in the region.

A Team Effort

RGYC was further represented on the international stage by Rohan Turaga, sailing with South Australian crew Calin Went, as well as Walter Howard and William Smith, all of whom competed with distinction throughout the regatta.

The results reflect a strong campaign for Team Australia as a whole, with coach Tony Bull, assistant coach Nick Neale, promotional coach Grace Hooper, the wider support team and the families of all the sailors playing a key role behind the scenes. The Australian campaign was supported by sponsors Marine Plus and Gill clothing.

With the championship behind them, both Garner and Benyan are taking a breather before setting their sights on what's next. "I am not sure yet, my focus has been on doing as well as I can in Italy," Garner said. Benyan has similar plans: "I haven't decided on my next goal yet. For now, I'm going to kick back, windsurf for a couple of weeks, and see what happens."

For now, Royal Geelong Yacht Club can celebrate a championship that cements its Cadet program as one of the strongest pathways for junior sailing talent in Australia.