The opportunity to join OptiAUS/AIODA’s Australian Teams or Squads is a unique, rewarding and highly sought after experience. Participation in any of the Teams or Squads should be viewed as a privilege. It is also an opportunity to build sailing experience with a number of similarly motivated sailors trying their best. Results achieved should not be the sole motivation, nor single performance indicator, but rather the collective learned experiences both in life and in sailing.
Background
The Australian Optimist Sailing Team (AOST) program was first introduced in 2006-7, with the Australian Optimist Development Squad (AODS) introduced in 2015. 2017 witnessed the introduction of a new structure to the combined Australian Optimist Sailing Team (AOST)/Development Squad program with increased flexibility, as well as the inclusion of a national Australian Optimist Girls Squad (AOGS).
2024 Program
In 2024, AIODA will be selecting an Australian Optimist Sailing Team consisting of 19 sailors and an Australian Optimist Development Squad of 16-20 sailors.
Positions on AOST or AODS are to be offered to eligible sailors based on rankings from the 2024 Australian Optimist Championships where sailors also participated in the 2024 Australian Optimist Team Racing Championship. All eligible sailors who are offered a position on the AOST or AODS are required to meet and maintain the Eligibility Criteria.
