Congratualtions Aaron!!!! 2026 IOM Australian Champion

The 2026 International One Metre Australian Championship, hosted by the Sunshine Coast Radio Sailing Club at Lake Kawana, produced four testing days of racing and a championship battle that went right down to the final leg of the final race.

Light and often unstable winds dominated the four days, making patience and adaptability every bit as important as outright boat speed. Long delays were experienced as courses were reset, officials waited for the breeze to settle or, at times, everyone simply waited for enough wind to allow racing to continue.

Qualifying Series/Eddie Cowell Perpetual Trophy

Only two qualifying races were completed on Day 1, with further four-and-a-half races completed on Day 2. The final two heats of the qualifying series were eventually completed on the morning of Day 3, allowing the fleet to be divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper fleets and the championship finals to begin.

By the completion of qualifying, Halton had established a commanding 12-point lead and, in doing so, secured the Eddie Cowell Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the highest placed competitor at the completion of the qualifying series.

Behind him, Jones headed into the finals in second, Farrar third., and Blackwood and Hudson all still firmly in the hunt.

Finals Bring the Championship to Life

With qualifying complete, the championship moved into the Finals Series and the points began to tighten.

Lisa Blackwood (AUS 35) made an immediate impression as the finals got underway. A strong start, including a race win in the early stages of the finals, brought her firmly into championship contention and ensured the leading group had little room for error.

Blackwood continued to feature around the front of the fleet and remained a factor throughout the finals, eventually securing an excellent third overall.

At the same time, Paul Jones continued to build his championship through consistency, while Aaron Farrar began gathering momentum as the finals progressed.

Qualifying leader Halton, who had been so dominant in the earlier light and fluky conditions, found the Gold Fleet racing considerably tougher. His commanding advantage began to disappear as Jones, Farrar and Blackwood applied the pressure.

As the championship moved towards its conclusion, the battle increasingly became one between Jones and Farrar.

Farrar then produced a remarkable late charge, winning the final races and putting himself in a position to challenge for the championship.

Despite that charge, everything would come down to the final race.

Championship Decided in the Final Race

Paul Jones went into the final race with a two-point advantage over Aaron Farrar.

The equation for Farrar was simple but difficult — he needed to beat Jones by at least two places to take the Australian Championship.Then came the final downwind leg.

Andrew Wilson (AUS 187) and Sean Wallis (AUS 71) began closing on the leading pair, and suddenly Jones' apparently comfortable second place was under serious threat.

By the final rounding of the leeward gate, it was marginal whether Jones could hold the position he needed. What had looked relatively secure only moments earlier had turned into a genuine race to the finish — not only for the finishing positions, but for the Australian Championship itself.

Jones fought to re-establish second place on the final leg, but to no avail.

Farrar held his nerve at the front to take the race win, while Wilson and Wallis forced their way into the equation and Jones ultimately crossed the line in fourth place.

That was enough.

The championship had changed hands in the closing stages of the final race.

Farrar's victory completed a superb late run and gave him a nett score of 40 points, just one point ahead of Jones on 41.

After four days of racing, the 2026 Australian Championship had been decided by a single point — and in the final metres of the final race.

Aaron Farrar (AUS 34) was the 2026 IOM Australian Champion.

GRCYC also had three other members at the Championship with Paul Bergamini also sailing in the Gold Fleet in the finals, Ben Thorburn in the Silver Fleet and Ian McKay in the Bronze Fleet. Garry Heymer attended as a volunteer helping the organisers run the event.