2026 ILCA 7 World Championship: Tom Saunders finishes 12th as New Zealand’s campaign ends in Ireland

New Zealand’s Tom Saunders narrowly missed out on a spot in the medal series at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Dún Laoghaire over the weekend, finishing 12th overall after a challenging final day of gold-fleet racing.

Saunders, who started the day in 11th and needed to break into the top 10 to advance to the two-race medal showdown, recorded 17th and 20th-place finishes to miss the cut-off and bring his campaign to an end.

The former ILCA 7 world champion had been within striking distance of the top 10 after a strong run through the elimination series, including a fourth-place finish earlier in the regatta.

Instead, Saunders finished just two places outside the medal series in a 141-boat fleet featuring many of the world’s leading sailors.

- Advertisement, article continues below -

George Gautrey finished the regatta strongly, securing his second top-10 race result of the elimination series to climb to 25th overall, ending the championship eight places ahead of fellow Kiwi Caleb Armit.

Armit was the third New Zealander to qualify for the gold fleet and finished 33rd overall after a strong rise through the standings during qualifying. He had started the championship 78th before climbing into the top 40 with a pair of standout results on the second day.

George Pilkington finished 83rd overall, while Zach Stibbe was 111th.

Caleb Armit was one of three Kiwis in the gold fleet and finished 33rd overall. Photos / Down Under Sail

At the front of the fleet, Hungary’s Jonatán Vadnai produced a decisive performance in the two-race medal series to claim his first ILCA 7 world title – and Hungary’s first-ever medal in the event.

- Advertisement, article continues below -

Kiwi designed. Kiwi built.
Fresh water, anywhere at sea.

Three models · 12V & 24V · Under 4W per litre

Model 01

OF70M

70 L / hr

Simple, robust, direct control. No-fuss desalination for owners who want clean water without extra electronics.

Manual Operation

Model 02

OF70A

70 L / hr

Automated salinity control, auto-flush, and dual-panel operation. All the ease, none of the complexity.

Fully Automated

Flagship

OF150A

150 L / hr

Brushless DC motor, automated control, double the output. For larger crews and serious bluewater passages.

High Output

oceanflo.co.nz New Zealand Engineered  ·  Under 4W / litre

Vadnai entered the final series fifth overall but made the most of the points reset, winning the championship after recording fourth and first in the two medal races.

Australia’s Matt Wearn produced the standout performance of the final day, winning the opening medal race and finishing second in the next to surge from ninth overnight to silver.

Britain’s Mickey Beckett claimed bronze, finishing level on points with Wearn, while Italy’s Lorenzo Chiavarini was fourth.

Final results and standings here.