In the Intermediate Optimist Fleet, RQYS sailors continued their strong showing at the national level, with Hugh Jones claiming first place overall, a remarkable achievement in a highly competitive division. Adding to the club’s success, Naomi von Bibra secured first place in the Under 10 Girls division, highlighting the depth of young talent coming through the RQYS program.

The Open Fleet, the most hotly contested division of the championships due to its role in World Championship team selection, saw Jack Maguire emerge as RQYS’s and Queenslands top performer, finishing an impressive 10th overall against the nation’s best junior sailors.

These results reflect not only individual performances, but also the strength of RQYS’s development pathway from Greenfleet through to Open Fleet competition. Moving forward, RQYS sailors will take away invaluable experience from this national championship, using the lessons learned in Hobart to build towards future state, national, and international success.

Competition across the Open Fleet was fierce, with sailors battling not only for national honours but also for coveted Australian team selection for the World Championships. As expected, New South Wales sailors once again proved dominant in the world selection race, underlining the extremely high standard of racing at this level.

The 2026 Optimist Nationals provided invaluable big-fleet racing experience for RQYS sailors, reinforcing key learning opportunities in starts, Clean air positioning racecourse positioning, and tactical decision-making—skills that will be critical as the team looks ahead to the 2027 Nationals in Melbourne.

With strong results, growing coaching depth, and exceptional family support, RQYS continues to cement its reputation as one of Australia’s leading junior sailing programs.

Please find results of all RQYS Juniors here.