Catching Up With Champions
Welcome to our special feature page, where we reconnect with past Optimist champions and discover their current journeys, the vessels they're sailing, and the championships they are tackling today. VIODA is excited to begin this series with a spotlight on one of the renowned Simmons brothers, Aidan! Join us as we delve into his inspiring story and celebrate his ongoing achievements in the world of sailing. Let's catch up with the champions!
Meet the Champion - Aidan Simmons
Aidan winning the Australian Optimist Championships in 2021, Adelaide
How did you get started in sailing?
I started sailing at the Indented Head Yacht Club in 2013 at the age of 6 in a wooden Optimist on Sunday mornings during the warmer months. My parents bought me my first fibreglass Optimist which was “Wild Thing”, sail number 941. I sailed in my first regatta at Springsail at Royal Geelong Yacht Club in 2017 in Open Fleet. I then competed at my first Australian Optimist Championship at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in 2018 and qualified for international events every year until 2022.
What are your highlights from sailing the Optimist?
My highlights include qualifying for 3 world championships and winning the Australian Optimist Championship 2 times in a row in 2021 and 2022. I was also happy to have won 16 regattas in 2 seasons in a range of heavy and light wind conditions. I am very happy with my achievements in the Optimist and the reward I received for all my hard work. During the summer months, I was training and racing 4 to 5 days per week with my brother Callum and travelling to many interstate regattas. The things I enjoyed most about sailing the Optimist was the competitive sailing in large fleets and the opportunity to meet lots of new people both in Australia and overseas.
What have you done since leaving the Optimist class?
Since finishing my time in the Optimist, I have moved into the Laser/ILCA class as well as sailing the Waszp.
In the ILCA 4, I competed in the 2023 Australian ILCA Championship just 5 months after finishing in the Optimist. I managed to just come away with the win, showing that developing Opti skills are vital for whatever boat you decide to sail next. I competed at the 2023 ILCA 4 World Championship in Volos Greece where I placed 23rd and came away with a race win, which was my first ever race win at a world championship event. At the 2024 Australian ILCA Championship in Adelaide, I won again in the ILCA 4 to become a 4 time Australian champion (Optimist and ILCA).
In 2022 I travelled to Lake Garda in Italy to compete in the Waszp Games where I won the 6.9 sail division world championship. At the 2024 Waszp Games in Sorrento Australia I finished in 18th place in the world in the largest 8.2 sail division. I enjoy sailing the Waszp as the foiling boats are very fast and the atmosphere at Waszp events is very fun.
I have now moved into the ILCA 6 sail and hope to continue my good form.
What words of advice do you have for Optimist sailors wanting to achieve great results?
Make sure you make good friends so that you have something to look forward to as well as sailing. Train as often as you can and stay focussed during training and events so that you get as much out of it as you can. Train hard in the winds that sailors don’t like very much, such as below 5 knots and over 20 knots.
Learn to hike hard!
Winning in the ILCA 4 at the 2024 Oceania & Australian ILCA Open & Youth Championships, Adelaide
Aidan at the 2023 Waszp International Games, Sorrento
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