It's the peak of summer sailing on our junior and youth sailing calendar, with our ILCA and Optimist sailors making a big start to their year with their respective National titles in Hobart.
We’re incredibly proud to see so many MYC sailors on the national stage, racing hard, supporting each other and representing the club with enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
Read below to hear about both regattas - ILCA (Laser class) and Optimists - and recaps from four of our junior sailors across both classes.
We’re incredibly proud to see so many MYC sailors on the national stage, racing hard, supporting each other and representing the club with enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
Read below to hear about both regattas - ILCA (Laser class) and Optimists - and recaps from four of our junior sailors across both classes.
2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Hobart
3-8 January 2026
Our youth sailors also kicked off the year with a major championship, travelling to Hobart to compete at the ILCA Nationals and Oceania Championships. This event is one of the biggest on the domestic racing calendar and attracts sailors from across Australia and overseas.
The 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Championships wrapped up last Wednesday (8th January) after six days of racing on Hobart’s River Derwent. More than 190 sailors competed across the ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets, making for large, competitive start lines throughout the week. Sailors were tested in varied conditions, from light and variable winds to more consistent sea breezes, requiring strong boat handling, fitness and tactical decision-making.
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Hobart
3-8 January 2026
Our youth sailors also kicked off the year with a major championship, travelling to Hobart to compete at the ILCA Nationals and Oceania Championships. This event is one of the biggest on the domestic racing calendar and attracts sailors from across Australia and overseas.
The 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Championships wrapped up last Wednesday (8th January) after six days of racing on Hobart’s River Derwent. More than 190 sailors competed across the ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets, making for large, competitive start lines throughout the week. Sailors were tested in varied conditions, from light and variable winds to more consistent sea breezes, requiring strong boat handling, fitness and tactical decision-making.
The 2026 Nationals in Hobart were an amazing learning opportunity, as well as a great experience sailing in a large fleet with many experienced sailors. The consistent sea breeze as well as the challenge of a strong tide made for excellent racing conditions. Being part of the solidarity program as well was an awesome opportunity to meet lots of new sailors from other states with a similar skill set and learn from each others sailing experiences, both before and during the regatta with the help of ILCA Oceania and the support that comes from the program. Tassie nationals was a remarkable week of racing with lots of lessons learnt that I will carry forward.
~ Kate, ILCA 4
The competition and conditions were very tough during the regatta, but I learnt so many new things about the weather, upwind course tactics, ect. I was lucky enough to see some boat finish the Sydney to Hobart race - including Ginan! I had a wonderful time with all my friends from MYC and around Australia! I can’t wait to do it again next year in Victoria!!
~ Maddy, ILCA 6
~ Kate, ILCA 4
The competition and conditions were very tough during the regatta, but I learnt so many new things about the weather, upwind course tactics, ect. I was lucky enough to see some boat finish the Sydney to Hobart race - including Ginan! I had a wonderful time with all my friends from MYC and around Australia! I can’t wait to do it again next year in Victoria!!
~ Maddy, ILCA 6
2026 Musto Australian Optimist Championship
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Hobart
9-15 January 2026
Our junior sailors have been busy this summer, heading to Hobart to represent the club and Victoria at their national championships. The Optimist Nationals are a key highlight on the junior sailing calendar, bringing together young sailors from across Australia for a week of racing and development.
The 2026 Musto Australian Optimist Championship is being sailed on the River Derwent, with sailors competing across Open, Intermediate and Green fleets. Qualifying races wrapped up earlier this week, and the Open fleet has now split into Gold and Silver fleets, heading into the final series today. Racing concludes on Thursday 15 January.
Victoria is well represented with 22 sailors competing, and Mornington Yacht Club has the largest Victorian contingent with 9 sailors on the start line, a fantastic effort that reflects the strength and depth of our junior program. The VIODA coaching team includes MYC coaches Will McKenzie and James Jackson, who are supporting Victorian sailors throughout the championship.
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, Hobart
9-15 January 2026
Our junior sailors have been busy this summer, heading to Hobart to represent the club and Victoria at their national championships. The Optimist Nationals are a key highlight on the junior sailing calendar, bringing together young sailors from across Australia for a week of racing and development.
The 2026 Musto Australian Optimist Championship is being sailed on the River Derwent, with sailors competing across Open, Intermediate and Green fleets. Qualifying races wrapped up earlier this week, and the Open fleet has now split into Gold and Silver fleets, heading into the final series today. Racing concludes on Thursday 15 January.
Victoria is well represented with 22 sailors competing, and Mornington Yacht Club has the largest Victorian contingent with 9 sailors on the start line, a fantastic effort that reflects the strength and depth of our junior program. The VIODA coaching team includes MYC coaches Will McKenzie and James Jackson, who are supporting Victorian sailors throughout the championship.
The Nationals has some of the hardest conditions I have been in, so it makes for some very exciting racing and I’m looking forward to the final series coming up.
~ Acklin, Optimist Open Fleet
The Hobart 2026 Nationals has been exciting so far on and off the water, with tough conditions with anything between five to twenty knots. I've been swimming at the local beach and hit the cricket nets, I'm excited for what comes in the next few days.
~ Mal, Optimist Open Fleet
~ Acklin, Optimist Open Fleet
The Hobart 2026 Nationals has been exciting so far on and off the water, with tough conditions with anything between five to twenty knots. I've been swimming at the local beach and hit the cricket nets, I'm excited for what comes in the next few days.
~ Mal, Optimist Open Fleet
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