Matt Wearn has been named one of four male finalists for the 2026 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, Australian Sailing announced on Thursday 29 October, capping a return to international ILCA 7 competition in which he won five of the six regattas he entered.

The season

After a break from competition following his gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the two-time Olympic champion won Sail Melbourne in November 2025 and then his seventh Australian ILCA 7 National Championship title in January 2026, according to Australian Sailing.

In Europe he won the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma and the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, before taking the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta on the waters that will host sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. He finished his campaign with silver at the ILCA 7 World Championship in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, climbing from ninth overall on the final day.

“It’s an honour to be recognised for this year’s performance on such a high level. Some amazing names and achievements to go up against,” Wearn said.

The field

Wearn is up against French offshore record-holder Thomas Coville, Singapore’s Formula Kite world champion Max Maeder and the Netherlands’ iQFOiL world champion Luuc van Opzeeland.

Australian Sailing is also backing Stacey Jackson and her team, The Famous Project, which it says completed the Trophée Jules Verne in 2025 in 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes, becoming the first all-female crew to complete a non-stop, unassisted lap of the globe.

Australian men have a strong record in the award. Tom Slingsby has won it three times, and James Spithill (2014) and Mathew Belcher (2013) have also taken it out.

How it is decided

Public votes count for 50% of the result, alongside World Sailing’s expert judging panel. Voting closes on 2 November, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Qingdao, China, during the World Sailing Annual Conference on Wednesday 18 November.

On the harbour this weekend

Closer to home, the LGT Wealth Management Australia Cup continues on Sydney Harbour through Sunday 1 November, with 16 TP52 and Super 40 teams racing from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, according to Marine Business News. After four twilight races, David Doherty’s Matador led the TP52 division, while one point separated Beau Ideal and Anarchy at the top of the provisional Super 40 standings.

Sources: Australian Sailing (29 October 2026); Marine Business News (30 October 2026).