About

Western Australian International Optimist Dinghy Association

Each state in Australia has its own Optimist association and we are the Western Australian association, known as WAIODA. We are run by a committee, a group of volunteers with a keen passion for Optimist dinghy sailing. It is our aim to ensure our children and future generations of children get the opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures sailing gives, because after all;

Sailing is fun and provides a great social life. Now and for the rest of your days;
Sailing is for everyone. Tall or short, girl or boy;
Sailing builds self-reliance, physical strength, quick thinking and a love of the environment.

WAIODA Objectives:

Bring Optimist sailors and families together to have some fun!
Give sailors access to State, National and International regattas.
Help Optimist sailors develop the essential sailing skills and techniques to compete at their best level.

What we provide:

Training Camps

Led by the best coaches in WA, our camps include on-water drills and practise races, as well as on-land fitness, technical sessions on rigging, and theory addressing strategies and tactics.

Coaches

WAIODA is lucky to have a pool of talented sailors which we draw from for coaching. These include State, National and Olympic-level sailors. Some are trained educators who engage brilliantly with children.

Teams Racing

Optimist Teams Racing is a competition between teams of sailors where the overall results of all team members is more important than their individual results. WAIODA enters one or more teams into the Australian Championship each year.

WA State Championship

Each summer season WAIODA hosts a two-day regatta which sees Optimist sailors from around WA compete for the title of state champion.

National Championship

The Optimist Australian Championship (Nationals) is held in early to mid-January in a different state each year. It is a great regatta for combining sailing, socialising and sightseeing. WAIODA sends a team of WA sailors each year, and supports them with coaches, coach boats, training camps and more.

International Regattas

WAIODA members are eligible for selection into the Australian Optimist Sailing Team (AOST) or Australian Optimist Development Squad (AODS) and to compete at international regattas.

Australian International Optimist Dinghy Association

In Australia, the Australian International Optimist Dinghy Association (AIODA) is the body that promotes competition and training in optimist sailing within the country. The AIODA website is optimist.org.au

International Optimist Dinghy Assocation

The official body that governs the Optimist class of boats is IODA, or the International Optimist Dinghy Association. IODA ensures the Optimist Class Rules are observed, they coordinate youth work between member countries, and establish and set the conditions for the IODA World and Continental Championships and choose the venues. You can read more about IODA on their website: www.optiworld.org