Samoan Olympian Takes Top Honours at NSW State Masters

February 2025 | Lake Macquarie, Australia – Olympic sailor Vaimo’oi’a Ripley returned to the NSW State Masters at Lake Macquarie earlier this month (1–2 February 2025) with an impressive performance, securing First Women Master, First Apprentice, and Third Overall in a highly competitive 71-boat ILCA 6 fleet.

With the Masters category now including Apprentices from age 30, Ripley’s entry has further enhanced the elite-level competition and fresh energy in the fleet.

Sailing alongside some of Australia’s most accomplished ILCA sailors, including previous World Champions, Ripley embraced the challenge, demonstrating a powerful combination of speed, racecraft, and tactical awareness. In unpredictable 10-12 knot conditions, she made key gains downwind and caught some of the fleet’s most seasoned sailors off guard.

Her journey to the podium wasn’t without obstacles. On Day 1, during Race 2, Ripley suffered a broken boom, forcing her to sail at a disadvantage for the remainder of the event. Thanks to the quick assistance of fellow competitor and mentor Jeff Loosemore, she was able to make necessary adjustments and continue competing.

“Racing in the Masters fleet is an amazing teaching tool,” Ripley said. “Every regatta sharpens my strategy and race awareness. The depth of knowledge in this fleet inspires me, and competing with these sailors drives me to new heights.”

This year’s podium finish is a remarkable improvement from Ripley’s 2024 NSW State Masters performance, where she placed 2nd Apprentice, 4th Female, and 40th Overall. Ripley’s outstanding performance also secured her first ILCA Masters ‘cube’, a prestigious award only available in fleets of a specific size, making this achievement even more significant.

With 14 female competitors in this year’s event, Ripley’s success further highlights the growing strength of women’s participation in Masters sailing.

Now focused on the Australian Masters in Westernport, Victoria (Feb 21–24), Ripley seeks to build on her success and continue her strong momentum in the ILCA Masters circuit.

Support Ripley’s Path
Sponsorships and donations enable her to continue competing at the highest level. Get in touch to get involved via her Instagram @varipley.

Ripley would like to thank her supporters Vaikobi, NB Sail Sports, Woollahra Sailing Club, and Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club for ensuring she gains valuable competition experience.