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Mike Chan

Nicholas Halliday has racked up another “special achievement”, becoming the first Hong Kong sailor to finish in the top 10 at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship in Ireland.
Halliday’s 10th place at the event in Dun Laoghaire marked a new high for the National Games gold medallist, and it was the first time an athlete from the city has performed that well in an Olympic class at the senior world championships.
The success, according to Halliday, showed he was moving in the right direction with his training and was the result of “hard work and my passion for sailing”.
“Top 10 at the World Championship of course has its own special meaning and significance as it’s the biggest and most difficult yearly ILCA event, and I am very happy to have achieved this milestone,” he added.
With the Asian Games just around the corner, Halliday believes the results at the week-long event in Dublin Bay will have a positive effect on his competition in Japan.

Of the 141 sailors from 45 countries and places who took part in the qualification races in Ireland, the 27-year-old ranked eighth, with reigning champion Ryan Lo of Singapore third.
Ha Jee-min of Korea, who won silver three years ago in Hangzhou, and India’s Vishnu Saravanan who claimed bronze, were 32 and 37, respectively.
“I am always taking things one at a time. The Asian Games is a very special event of great importance with different structure and demands than the worlds,” Halliday said.
“To achieve a result like this at the worlds just before the Asian Games of course is a confidence booster, but it mostly confirms to me that I am in good condition heading into the Games.”
Harris Tsolis, Halliday’s head coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, was adamant his charge was a medal contender in Japan.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Tsolis said he considered the Hongkonger “the best ILCA 7 sailor in Asia”, but added that the talent in the region was very high.
“Singapore and South Korea also have super strong and very experienced sailors, especially in the wind conditions expected in Gamagori,” Tsolis said.
“India is also a very good one with a lot of good results; it’s a different ball game in the smaller Asian Games fleet.”
Despite the display at the World Championship, Tsolis said there was a hint of regret, with Halliday knowing some mistakes over the last two days cost him an even better place.
There were two “not so great starts” in both races on the final qualification day, and he was also over the line half a second early in the first final race, which required him to turn back and clear the start line again.
Consistency is key at such big events, but it is not easy
Harris Tsolis, Halliday’s head coach
“ILCA 7 is the most competitive Olympic sailing class, so racing is extremely close at the World Championship,” Tsolis said.
“Everyone is very skilled and high level, so just a very small mistake can send you to the back of the fleet with very few options and no easy passing lanes.
“You do not have a lot of time and opportunities to recover. It’s not impossible, but it definitely hurts. Consistency is key at such big events, but it is not easy.”
Tsolis said aside from the hard work Halliday put into his sport and the talent he had shown from a young age, the Hongkonger’s success over the past couple of years had served as a confidence boost.
“Experience also plays a huge role in sailing, and that’s why you see most Olympic medallists are close to 25 to 30 years old,” the coach added.
“It takes some time for everything to come together, and the thing that definitely made an impact for Nick was his wins in the Asian Championship that gave him the ticket to his first Olympics in Paris, and of course his amazing performance and win in the France Sailing Grand Slam in 2025.
“Those moments boosted his confidence a lot, and he realised he is on the right track and the process is working. He now feels he belongs at the top and fights hard for it at every major event.”


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Sailor Halliday lays down Asian Games marker with historic top 10 at World Champs

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Hong Kong’s Nick Halliday becomes first from city to finish in top 10 at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship


Hong Kong’s Nick Halliday becomes first from city to finish in top 10 at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship.


Water sports

Nicholas Halliday

Sailor Halliday lays down Asian Games marker with historic top 10 at World Champs

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong’s Nick Halliday becomes first from city to finish in top 10 at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship

Hong Kong’s Nick Halliday becomes first from city to finish in top 10 at the ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship