Victorian Optimist State Championships 2022 report
The 2022 Victoria Optimist State Championships held at Sandringham Yacht Club saw a group of 10 WSC sailors in attendance: Jago and Sebastian Tucker, Titouan and Marin Christodoulou, Luca Alexander, Saxon Foggo, Mia Austin, Walter Heeley as well as our friends joining in from Tasmania Ed Steedman and World Championship representative Harry Pilkington.Given it was a long weekend in Victoria, this regatta stretched over 3 days where a total of 9 races were completed in all fleets.
In the intermediates fleet, Sebastian Tucker had a magnificent performance that would most likely positioned him at the top of the leaderboard would he not have missed the final day. (School camp duties to blame). Marin had a formidable participation in what was his second regatta in Intermediates.
The Open fleet, was comprised of some of the most competitive sailors of Australia 4 of the 5 World Championship qualified sailors competed at this event which only magnified the impressive performance displayed by 11yo Walter Heeley finishing 3rd just behind 2-time National Champion Aiden Simons from VIC and Austin Higgins from SA. Mia Austin also displayed a remarkable performance with a few races at the front of the of the fleet and finishing a very deserved second best girl. Harry Pilkington finished a respectable 6th place and the rest of the team gained very valuable lessons and extra motivation to display when they go back into racing at the NSW State Championships at Pittwater in 1 week time.
Results-apart regattas like this highlight the great camaraderie within our team with sailors and parents helping load and unload the trailer, kids playing and connecting with new interstate friends and learning the most of a new sailing venue.
A big thanks to Sandringham Yacht Club for delivering a world-class regatta, to coach Alex Zimmermann and the WSC families that made this trip possible!
Full results
