Sam began his sailing journey in Optimists at the age of nine after moving from England to Australia. Training through Sandringham YC, Royal Brighton YC, Black Rock YC and Albert Park Lake Winter VIODA series, he progressed rapidly from Tackers through Greenies, Inter & Open fleets. In 2024, Sam was selected to travel to Qingdao, representing Team Victoria at the VIODA–China International Exchange, where he qualified for Silver Fleet and brought home the Bronze trophy. 

Alongside his Optimist sailing, he has developed a passion for the 125 class and double-hander sailing, competing as both crew and skipper. In 2025 he achieved an impressive 2nd place overall as skipper in the Open Fleet at the 125 Victorian State Championships.

Sam is also an active Teams sailor, representing his school in the Australian Secondary Schools Teams Sailing Championships. His school team has won consecutive Victorian State titles, qualifying twice for Nationals, and in 2025 earned the honour of representing Australia at the Interdominion Championships in South Australia. Sam was selected as one of three skippers at his school to compete against the top schools from New Zealand. A member of 2025 VOST, Sam is training for the 2026 Australian Optimist Championships in Tasmania. He loves sailing because of the technical challenge of tuning and handling boats, the excitement of regattas, but best of all the friendships and opportunities to travel around the Bay and further afield.

Stirling M - Mad Dog AUS 1844 - Albury Wodonga YC + Sandringham YC 

Hello my name is Stirling M and I live in Albury on the NSW-VICTORIAN Border. I have been sailing optis since I was 8 years old, starting in Tackers. I am now 14 years old and proud to be sailing in the Victorian Optimist State Team (VOST-Open Fleet). I am so fortunate, my home club is Albury Wodonga Sailing Club (AWSC), a club where everyone knows, encourages and supports each other, no matter age, ability or boat type! Like many country kids, I travel weekly with my parents (and 2 very excitable schnauzer dogs! 4+ hours) to Melbourne to access more opportunities and coaching. I am also member of the Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC). I love my sailing and all that comes with it!

As my sailing has improved, I am so very lucky so have my boats! I sail under sail numbers 1386 (Wild Boats XI), 1785 (Thunderbolt) and 1844(Mad Dog). Through sailing, I have made lifetime friends, some now I am proud to call "family"

Opti sailing has given me opportunities and allowed me to sail/compete in places that only dreams are made of both in Australian and Internationally!In 2023 I attained my assistant instructor qualification through Australian Sailing. I have gone on and helped teach sailing to "tackers" giving back to the sport and the people whom have given so much to me! I know the skills and friendships made through my opti sailing will last me a lifetime. For the younger sailors following on as (I will soon “age out”), I offer you this advice - "May there always be wind in your sails and through sheer determination, resilience, patience and friendship you will indeed achieve your goals”

Tate C - AUS 1860 - PR2 - Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club

Hi I am Tate and I sail Optis’ at SSCBC and CCSC. I started sailing when I was 6 years old and had a great time improving my sailing skills and making spectacular memories – I am now 13 years old. 2024 was a great year making Gold fleet at the Opti National Championships, winning the Jubilee State Championships, 4^th Victorian boy at the Vic Opti State Champs, qualifying for VOST and AODS together with being the Opti Club Champion at SSCBC. Sailing has taught me many life skills and made me many terrific friends.  I am looking forward to a great season ahead and sailing well both at the Nationals at RQ and in Thailand representing Australia.

Acklin S - AUS 1907 - Blue Bayou - Mount Martha Yacht Club

Acklins love of the water started well before his first formal sail training at the age of 8, when he completed the Tackers program at Mt Martha Yacht Club in 2019. Strict Covid isolation conditions in Victoria delayed the commencement of the Green Fleet training, but Acklin was lucky enough to live close enough to the water to “exercise” within his 5 km allowed zone. So he began his own training in his new Opti “Speed Hopper”, attached to a long rope
which his Dad held onto in case our little sailor headed out to Bass Strait! It wasn't long before that piece of rope became too short and thankfully Green Fleet training was due to start. Acklin sailed through this training (pardon the pun) and was busting to put his new skills to the test. He entered the Schnapper Point Regatta in 2022 but was intimidated by the rough conditions and failed to finish. He was however, captured with the competitive sailing environment and the camaraderie between the sailors . Lake Boga Regatta was next on the agenda and Acklin came home holding the 1st place trophy!
More regattas were entered and Acklins trophy shelf grew steadily culminating in winning the under 12 State Optimist trophy. The move to Sorrento Sailing Club saw new skills learned and an ever increasing passion and determination in the sport. Acklins' quest to sail with the best led him to be eligible to compete in the Opti Open class at the 2023 Nationals in Sydney. He came home from Sydney with some very strong results, but more importantly he saw the learning curve that was still ahead of him. Since then Acklin has been flattening that learning curve every time he sails and holding his own with those Opti sailors he has been in awe of ffrom the Sydney Nationals. An offer from VIODA for Acklin to bypass the State development Team and join a group of 8 sailors in the Optimist State team has cemented Acklins pure love and determination to sail and compete at the highest level. From a kid on a rope, to Representing the State in 3 years! Watch out world, this kid’s got an agenda!!