At only 13 years of age, Saltwater P-9 College student and Point Cook local Ashlea Tan has been making waves.
She has been busy preparing to take part in the International Optimist Dinghy Association’s (IODA) African Championship in Morocco from Tuesday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 9.
Ashlea would be competing against more than 100 top sailors of the world at the event.
“I have been sailing in the Optimist dinghy for about four years since 2019,“ she said.
“The best thing about sailing is to be out there with nature.
“I often sail with turtles, stingrays, seals and even had dolphins race beside me.“
At such international competitions, athletes were encouraged to bring their country’s souvenirs and gifts to exchange with fellow competitors.
Ashlea has planned to bringing an Australian flag, an inflatable kangaroo, plenty of koala pen clips and other Australian Day souvenirs.
Ashlea said it would be a “huge honour and privilege“ to represent Australia on the world stage.
“It means so much to me to be selected to represent Australia to compete at international events,“ she said.
“It is going to be a long journey to get to Morocco, but I am determined to be there to represent my country and to sail my best.
“Being my very first year on the Australian Optimist Sailing Team and the African Optimist dinghy championships in Morocco as my very first international competition, I am going to try my very best and hope that I can bring some proud results for Australia.“
Wyndham council has awarded Ashlea with the Wyndham City Community Pathway Scholarship to support her journey to Morocco for the international championships.
