Etchells Australasian Championship

The Etchells Australasian Championship is a major one-design keelboat regatta held at Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast — the winter championship of the Etchells class, one of the most respected one-design keelboats in the world. Because every boat is effectively identical, the racing is a pure test of crews, which is exactly why it draws the calibre of sailor it does.

What it is

The championship is organised by the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, which has run an Etchells winter championship at Mooloolaba since 1997. Its timing is deliberate: while the southern states are cold, the Sunshine Coast offers reliable winter breeze and open water, drawing the fleet north. As a strict one-design event, results come down to crew work, tactics and boat-handling rather than equipment — the essence of the format.

What is an Etchells?

The Etchells is a sleek 30-foot one-design keelboat, designed in 1966 by the American Skip Etchells. Its strict class rules ensure every boat is effectively identical, so races are decided by sailing skill alone. Sailed by a small crew, it is a demanding, rewarding keelboat that sits among the most prestigious one-design classes anywhere — attracting Olympic, world and national champions to its fleets.

The class in Australia

The Etchells has deep roots here. The first Etchells arrived in Australia in 1973, and the class has since grown to around fifteen fleets spread across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The Melbourne fleet races out of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club; other strong fleets sail on Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and beyond. That national spread is what makes the Australasian Championship such a strong field.

How to enter and follow

Entries and event information are published by the Etchells class association and the Mooloolaba Yacht Club. Because it is one-design, the racing is scored boat-for-boat — first across the line wins, with no handicap adjustment, as explained in our guide to line honours versus handicap. For where the class sits among the wider range of boats, see types of sailboats, and the sailing terms glossary covers the language of the racing.