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Meet VODS
Meet the VICTORIAN OPTIMIST DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 2024 /2025
Zelie Goussard - AUS 1823 - The French Sea
Zelie started sailing at RYBC, following on her brother’s steps, when she was 9 years old.From tackers, she has evolved quickly, and is now sailing all year long in the Open fleet, in Summer at Sandringham Yacht Club and at Albert Park Lake during winter.Zelie loves sailing for the friendships as well as the fun on the water.
Stirling Marshall - AUS 1386 - Wild Boats XI
Stirling has been sailing since he was 7 years old and started out from the tackers program at Albury Wodonga Yacht Club (AWYC). Following tackers, he participated in club racing and was awarded Junior Skipper of the Year in 2022. He commenced training with VIODA in 2023. In the same year, Stirling was also lucky enough to travel to China as part of the VIODA-Qingdao exchange program!
Stirling is looking forward to improving his skills as part of the Victorian Optimist Development Squad (VODS). Stirling has also completed the assistant instructors course and enjoys volunteering at AWYC teaching tackers to the future sailors!
In May 2024, in recognition of Stirling's dedication to sailing and representation of the AWYC, he was awarded the Rear Commodores Trophy!
Lily Cantwell - AUS 1868 - Menace
Lily Cantwell is a young and talented sailor who has been sailing in the Optimist Class for 6 years. She represents the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC), Albert Sailing Club (ASC) and Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (SSCBC). She has shown remarkable determination and skill over the years competing in many regattas across the country in sometimes very trying conditions!
Her highlights this year include securing a commendable 18th place in the Open Fleet at the Optimist Victorian Championships held at Sandringham Yacht Club and 12th place at the VIC Youth Championships held at SSCBC. She also loved the recent teams racing day at Albert Sailing Club where she had a lot of fun competing with her friends and secured 2nd spot with her teammate Louis.
Her involvement and success in these events indicate a positive and committed attitude towards sailing reflecting her enthusiasm and hard work in the sport. She is thrilled to be a part of the VODS team for the 2024 season.
Josie Lott
VODS of 2023 / 2024
Frances Gibson
Frances’s first sailing regatta was while in utero, when her mother competed in the Tasar Australian Championships in Queensland when she was 21 weeks pregnant. As a toddler she watched her mum depart the wharf at Williamstown to compete in the Australian women’s Keelboat Regatta. Her mother had previously been an Australian Champion having won the regatta before she was born. The family routine on a Saturday was to go to the yacht club with her dad and younger sister and watch mum prepare the boat for racing before waving goodbye.
Frances’s first long voyage was on a 35-foot yacht sailing from Geelong to Williamstown at night.
She watched her dad build a timber boat in the garage and then started sailing a Minnow which her father had built. In 2022 she started sailing an Opti and loves the friendships and camaraderie of the class with sleepovers with other girls being a highlight of summer. Frances has been fortunate to have received great coaching from Sofie, Nick, Peter, David and Jack who are now her first port of call for advice, before her parents!
Sofia Ceban-Geysman
I am thirteen years old and have been sailing since I have been 6 years old. Sailing is really fun and an incredibly social sport. I love sailing because of my friends, and how I feel connected with the boat and ocean.
Tate Cantwell
Josh Bacon
Lily Cantwell
Louis Coates
Savannah Deeth
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