WA HANSA State Champs @ RPYC Mini Series

Written by Rachael Cox

A fabulous weekend of racing for the WA Hansa State Championships, which was part of RPYC Mini Series over the weekend of 7 – 8 February 2026.

Sailability WA would like to thank Royal Perth Yacht Club for organising the 2026 Refined Edge Mini Series, which included Hansa class boats to be our WA Hansa State Championships for 2026. Excellent race management by RPYC on BRAVO course where the Hansa 303 double class and the Hansa Liberty fleets were racing. Sailabillity WA volunteers assisted with boat set up on Friday 6^th and a practice sail in Melville Waters east, on water safety in the Sailabiltiy RIB for the pracitice sail on Friday and for racing on Saturday and Sunday, as well as at conclusion of racing to pack the boats away. Mario and Sarah two Sailability WA volunteers also teamed up with members Mark and Liz to race in the double fleet as crew for this event.

It was fantastic to see a fleet of 8 Hansa Libertys and 3 Hansa 303 doubles taking part in this event, as well as 2 Hansa 303 singles. Sailors travelled from clubs near, on the Swan River including Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Royal Perth Yacht Club, and far, as we welcomed two representatives from the Japanese Hansa class association.

A big weekend of racing with 6 races sailed over two days for the WA Hansa State Championship, with mostly lighter and hot wind conditions over both days of racing. Hot conditions prevailled over the weekend, with temperatures sitting around 35 degrees on both racing days. Much water was drunk and splashed over competiors over the weekend, and icepoles on shore were welcome in the airconditioned dinghy division after racing each day.

On Saturday, the first two races of the series were completed in light breeze before sailors were sent ashore for lunch while the breeze stabilised, and a further two races completed in the afternoon in a South/easterly.

On Sunday racing started again in light breeze from the S/E and everyone drifited towards the finish line for the 5^th race of the series. Sailors were sent in for lunch while the breeze swung to the S/W and increased in strength. A final race for the series was sailed in the afternoon in a moderate to strong breeze to finish off the 6 race series. Thanks to the race committee on BRAVO course for accomodating a request for Hansa sailors to sail more races, an extra ‘just for fun’ race was added on to the end of the regatta for those wanting to have some more time on Melville Water East in the fresh breeze.

Congratulations to the winners in each division, with the following sailors awarded the WA Hansa Liberty and Hansa 303 champions for this year and their names added to the W.A. Hansa Class perptual trophies for each division 😊

Hansa Liberty:

Robert Crofts- Barracuda RFBYC

Hansa 303 double:

Sarah Liddiard and Liz Syed- Banana Boat RPYC

Hansa 303 single:

Josh Hendrickson- Piranaha MOFSC/ RFBYC

Thanks to on ongoing support from Healthway and WA Disabled Sports Association to enable sailors with disabilites to #ACT/BELONG/COMMIT and compete on the Swan River/Derbal Yerrigan for 2026.

A few photos on the dock/ before racing below!