First Zoom8 State Championships at Altona Yacht Club
by Peter Robinson 7 Mar 22:25 PDT
7-8 March 2026
Proudly sponsored by Werribee Mazda and JT Tan and Leah Keh
On Saturday morning of 7th March, a predicable morning breeze rolled across the Altona foreshore, perfect for junior sailors love. For the first time ever, the Zoom8 State Championships was held at Altona Yacht Club, and the boat park buzzed with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Werribee Mazda banners fluttered, adding a splash of corporate support to a day otherwise dominated by sandy feet, and kids rigging their boats for a day of fun.
From the very first start, it was clear that Ashlea had arrived with intent, coming off a recent victory as Victorian under 21 ICLA state champion, her boat, SCAT, sliced through the chop with a confidence that made the rest of the fleet take notice. Race after race, she held her nerve, her lane, and her lead, claiming the inaugural State Championship title with a performance that looked effortless but was anything but.
Behind her, Jack on Speed Ticket fought tooth and nail. Every shift, every gust, every mark rounding he was there, pushing, chasing, refusing to let Ashlea sail away uncontested. His consistency earned him a well-deserved second place.
And then there was Charlie on Passing Wind, whose name alone guaranteed he'd be the crowd favourite. His determination secured him third place, rounding out a podium that set a high bar for future championships.
Most Improved was Billy. Every regatta has a sailor who quietly levels up, and this time it was Billy. Race by race, he sharpened his starts, tightened his tacks, and found that extra gear that separates "getting around the course" from "competing with intent."
If the main fleet showed mastery, the Green Fleet showed heart. Cooper, sailing Yoda, brought wisdom beyond his years. Calm, steady, and quietly lethal on the racecourse, he claimed 1st place with the kind of consistency coaches dream about. But Josh wasn't far behind. After a shaky first race, he unleashed a string of bullets that had spectators whispering, "Where did that come from?" His comeback earned him 2nd place, and a reputation as someone you never count out.
In a sport where tempers can flare as quickly as the wind shifts, Mary stood out for all the right reasons, being awarded the sportsmanship trophy. Whether helping another sailor rig, offering a spare part, or giving a smile after a tough race, she embodied the spirit of the sport.
The first Zoom8 State Championships at Altona Yacht Club had delivered everything:
- Tight racing
- big improvements
- future stars
- A club community that cheered for every sailor, not just the winners.
Werribee Mazda's sponsorship gave the event polish, but it was the sailors, every tack, every capsize, every grin, that made it unforgettable.
And as the fleet returned for day 2, the weather was a big too much, so a training session was held, then awards presented before things were packed up. One thing was already clear this wasn't just the first Zoom8 State Championships. It was the start of something big.
The Altona Yacht Club Committee thanks all the volunteers and parents that came along to make a great event.
If interested in sailing at Altona Yacht Club go to www.altonayachtclub.org.au/LearnToSail-Children.html
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|
| Main Fleet |
|---|
| 1 | Z3 | SCAT | Ashlea Tan | + | + | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | Z20 | Speed Ticket | Jack Wilson | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Z30 | Passing Wind | Charlie Elvin | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| 4 | Z10 | Piotr | Piotr Palmowski | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 19 |
| 5 | Z15 | Billy | Billy Cuming | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
| 6 | Z2 | Mary | Mary Shaw | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
| 7 | ZOOM12 | Haggis Hunter | Blake Quinlan | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 33 |
| Green Fleet |
|---|
| 1 | 18 | Yoda | Cooper Matestic | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Zoom 21 | Josh | Josh Quinlan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Z | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Z5 | Amelie | Amelie Taylor | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| 4 | Z1 | Mullet | Elliot Robinson | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 15 |
| 5 | Z16 | Louis | Louis Frost | 3 | (DNF) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNC) | (DNF) | (DNC) | (DNC) | 27 |