The penultimate day of Sail Melbourne 2025 delivered some of the most challenging and competitive racing of the regatta, as sailors battled shifting breezes and rolling Port Phillip swell at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC). 

Race officials reported moderate to fresh winds, averaging in the mid-teens and building into the low 20-knot range, creating a demanding but rewarding racetrack across all classes. 

Today was the second day of racing for the 2025 Australian Para Sailing Championships for the 2.4mR Class, and it is local RBYC sailor Neil Patterson who holds a commanding lead with four wins from five races. 

Patterson spoke passionately about what the class means to him after racing today. 

“I just love it, and it’s the freedom. You just go out there in the middle of the bay and it's freedom. You can take this boat out, do whatever you want in it, go wherever you want. It’s opened so many opportunities for me, I went back to university to do naval architecture because of it. I've met so many people, I've travelled around the world, it's just freedom.” 

Action from the 2.4mR class CREDIT Down Under Sail

The Australian Sailing Team 49erFX team of Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot have been hugely impressive in the over the first three days, with seven wins from nine races including four from four today. 

“Racing was pretty good. We had four races, so we're back on schedule, but it was hectic,” said Harding. 

“The first race was quite light, and then a big rainfall came in and we were all trying to keep the boat upright, but then it settled out for the next two races.” 

Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot CREDIT Down Under Sail

Depending on where you look on the beach in Brighton you might find two-time Olympic champion Matt Wearn, or the swathe of Optimists who started their regatta today. 

Tate Cantwell from Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club was pleased with today’s racing, as he finds himself in second place in the Optimist Open class.

“It was pretty good, the waves were massive,” said Cantwell. “The wind was consistent, it wasn't very shifty, but it was a pretty good day of racing. I finished with three seconds which is pretty good.” 

Finley Insermini in the Optimist Open class CREDIT Down Under Sail

With the ILCA fleets trialling the proposed Olympic format it has ensured tomorrow’s final day of racing is set to be an exciting one. Racing remains tight in the ILCA 6 class, where America’s Charlotte Rose will take the lead into the final day of racing tomorrow with Zoe Thomson the best placed of the Aussies in fifth. Otto Henry and Shaun Connor are in control of the 49er class, as are Ben Hinks and Fallon Katz in the Mixed 470. 

With several podium battles separated by only a handful of points, Sail Melbourne 2025 is poised for a thrilling conclusion tomorrow.  

Find a full list of results on the regatta website. 

PHOTOS: Down Under Sail