By Alesha Capone
Point Cook siblings Atticus and Ashlea are making a splash in the world of sailing.
The brother and sister, who are aged 12 and 10 respectively, took up the sport two years ago.
They won top spot for the Green Fleet at the Australia National Optimist Championships, and also First Girl and First Boy for Green Fleet at the Victorian Optimist Championships, earlier this year.
“Green Fleet” refers to a sailing program for primary-school aged pupils and “optimist” is the small, single-handed sailing dinghy used by children 15 years and under.
Mum Leah said the youngsters trained twice a week with the Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association (VIODA).
Leah, a VIODA volunteer, said the association was keen to get more children “into sailing in the beautiful waters in the west”.
VIODA president Xavier Vandame said most children enjoyed the social aspect of sailing.
“What they also learn about is being autonomous and independent, you make your own decisions – to go to the left, to go to the right, to pull the sail or not pull the sail,” he said.
Mr Vandame said many young sailors also went on to become good drivers, after learning how to navigate among up to 50 boats in a regatta, plus deal with wind and the tide.
Details: www.vioda.org.au/home/
