About

The Western Australian International Optimist Dinghy Association (WAIODA) is the home of Optimist sailing in WA. As a volunteer-led organisation, we support junior sailors, families, and clubs through coaching programs, regattas, and development opportunities that build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of sailing.

WA has a unique place in the history of Australian Optimist sailing — we were the first state to adopt the class, nearly a decade ahead of the rest of the country. Today, that pioneering spirit continues as WA sailors regularly compete — and succeed — at national and international levels.

Our mission is to grow the sport by fostering a fun, inclusive, and high-quality sailing experience for young people across the state.

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