Optimist Nationals: Auckland teenager makes NZ sailing history in New Plymouth
by Eduan Roos, Yachting NZ 7 Apr 18:35 PDT
Zofia Wells (GBC) - 2026 Toyota NZ Optimist National Open champion - New Plymouth YC - Day 4 - April 7, 2026 © NPYC
Auckland teenager Zofia Wells has etched her name into New Zealand sailing history, becoming the first female sailor to win the overall title at the prestigious New Zealand Optimist National Championships.
The 14-year-old from Glendowie Boating Club delivered a commanding performance across four days of racing at the New Plymouth Yacht Club, outclassing a fleet of 85 other sailors to secure the title by a remarkable 18-point margin on Tuesday.
Widely regarded as the premier junior sailing class in the country, the Optimist class has long been a proving ground for future champions. While girls’ titles have been contested for decades, no female sailor had ever claimed the overall national crown until now.
For Wells, the achievement is still sinking in.
"It feels really crazy — I still can’t believe I did what I set out to do," she said.
Having already won the girls’ national title for the past two years, Wells arrived at the regatta with a clear goal: "Winning overall was definitely something I thought about and was hoping to achieve before and during the regatta."
She won five of her six qualifying races and added two wins in the finals series, finishing outside the top three only once. In total, she claimed seven race victories across the regatta.
Napier Sailing Club’s Blake Duncan and Jake Dickey completed the podium, while Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club’s Ally Burfoot finished fourth overall. Notably, female sailors made a strong impression throughout the fleet, with five girls finishing inside the top 20.
"The fact that it hasn't been done before certainly makes me feel very proud of myself for what I have achieved," Wells said. "Considering the experience of the fleet, it definitely makes the win more special."
The regatta tested sailors across a wide range of conditions, from light winds in the opening days to gusts reaching 20 knots on the final day.
Despite her dominance, Wells said she deliberately avoided getting caught up in the possibility of victory too early. Instead, she relied on a light-hearted ritual that has quietly followed her success from regatta to regatta.
"After the first day, I started to think that I could win overall, but I decided not to focus on that. I think I went as well as I did because I wasn't worried about anything and was just focusing on sailing and having fun while competing," she said. "I had one main lucky charm, which was a small pink piece of Dyneema (rope) that I’ve had at every regatta where I’ve done well."
And done well, she has. Over the past 12 months, Wells has also claimed the coveted 2026 Tanner Cup and skippered the top female crew at the 2025 RS Feva World Championship in France, where she finished second overall in the Open fleet alongside teammate Charlotte Handley.
Now firmly established as one of the country’s brightest young sailing talents, Wells credits two Kiwi Olympic greats in particular as inspiring her.
"My role models are mainly [windsurfing legend] Barbara Kendall and [America’s Cup and SailGP star] Peter Burling, and my biggest supporters are definitely my parents," she said.
Burling himself won the Optimist national crown in 2003, while other previous winners include Black Foils SailGP sailor Leonard Takahashi-Fry (2011 and 2012), and New Zealand Olympians Dan Wilcox (2004) and Paul Snow-Hansen (2005).
Wells' parents, James and Julia, introduced her to the sport at a young age.
"I got into sailing through my parents because they were windsurfers, and I wanted to be like them. Luckily, my dad said I had to learn to sail before I learned to windsurf, which got me into Optis and later progressed into larger boats!"
Yachting New Zealand Youth Manager Sam Mackay said Wells' achievement marks a significant moment for sailing in the country.
"For Zofia to achieve this is a huge milestone and a credit to all her hard work," Mackay said. "She has already proven herself on the world stage, and what stands out just as much is her attitude towards sailing — she's not overly focused on any one result and is already committed to her 420 [double-handed dinghy] campaign with Charlotte.
"The Optimist fleet is one of the most competitive junior classes in the country, and the nationals are among the toughest events on the calendar to perform well in, particularly in the light, choppy conditions the sailors experienced. It was great to see the depth across the fleet, with strong performances throughout the open division. Having two girls in the top five for the first time since 2009, along with the strength of regional programmes like Napier and Tauranga, was really encouraging."
Mackay added that Wells' breakthrough has wider implications for the future of the sport.
"Growing pathways and creating opportunities for young sailors — especially young female sailors — is a key focus for Yachting New Zealand. Zofia's result will inspire other girls to aim high and keep progressing in the sport."
Globally, the Optimist class remains one of the most important entry points into competitive sailing. Designed for sailors under 16, the small, single-handed dinghy is sailed in more than 120 countries, with over 150,000 registered boats worldwide. It is widely recognised as the foundation of elite sailing careers.
Wells ranks this win among her proudest sailing achievements — "mainly because I’m the first girl to ever win" — but she has no plans to slow down.
"My long-term ambition is to go to the Olympics with Charlotte in a 49erFX [women’s skiff]," she said. "However, I have also thought about the America's Cup and being on a SailGP boat one day."
Final results and standings www.npyc.co.nz/events/opti-nats
Photos and videos available on Facebook and Instagram @npyachtclub or in 'Event Photos' on the regatta website www.npyc.co.nz/events/opti-nats