A total of 16 Australians sailors drawn from five states competed this year at the New Zealand National Optimist Championship, at Napier on the south east corner of the North Island, including 12 members of the Australian Optimist Sailing Team.

The championship, conducted over Easter, drew 221 contestants of which 167 competed in the Open Fleet with the remainder in the Green Fleet. The 16 Australians were joined by sailors from Singapore and Noumea taking the overseas contingent to a total of 33 sailors. The regatta was held in unusually light wind conditions of less than 10 knots. These light conditions placed great importance on starting technique and boat speed skills.

The regatta was conducted over 5 days with 3 races per day. No invitation race or lay day was included in the program. The main fleet was divided into groups of 4 with each group distinguished by a particular colour. Each group then raced another colour making a start line of 84 boats. The course sailed was the Optimist Worlds course, a trapezoid with a gate at mark 3.

The championship was won by Logan Dunning-Beck, of Wakatere Club near Auckland. Logan sailed superbly in the light airs of Hawkes Bay, previously winning all the major regattas in the lead up to the Nationals. 2nd was James Turner from Murrays Bay S.C. 3rd (on a count back) and first female for the second year running was Alexandra Maloney, also from Murrays Bay. 4th overall and 1st international competitor was Luke Tan from the National Sailing Centre in Singapore.

Best of the Australians was Sean Ott, Southport Sailing Club in Qld, placed 38th. (Sean was 2nd in the most recent Sabot Nationals and 3rd at the Australian Optimist Nationals).
The organisation of the event was first class and it drew many big name sponsors including naming rights sponsor, Toyota. Napier, located on the east coast of the north island, renowned for its Art Deco architecture, was an excellent venue.