2025 Canadian Optimist National Championship at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

by A.J. Keilty 27 Aug 07:59 BST August 16-22, 2025

Will Keilty wins historic three-peat

Under sunny skies, shifting winds and monster swells from Hurricane Erin, the 2025 Canadian Optimist Dinghy Championships unfolded this past week at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Hosted by RNSYS and the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association, the regatta drew a vibrant community of Canadian sailors, coaches, volunteers and families to the water-front of Halifax's Northwest Arm.

Amid fleet racing, team racing and the debut of real-time MetaSail tracking in Canada, the week became a showcase of skill, grit and camaraderie. Of particular note was Will Keilty, whose three-peat in Fleet Racing and Team Racing sets a new high bar for Canadian youth sailing.

History Made, and Bright Future

Already a two-time champion, Will Keilty sailed to his third Canadian national Optimist title in Halifax—a new milestone in North American Optimist Sailing. At just 11, he became North America's youngest ever national champion back in 2022 when he won in Lunenburg over 130 competitors and helped RNSYS secure the Canadian national team-racing trophy that year. He repeated the win again in 2023 in West Vancouver. He lost his title to teammate Jacob JingBo Tu in 2024 in Hudson, QC, and now in 2025, has regained the title to complete a hat-trick that cements his place firmly in Canadian sailing history.

Will's remarkable performance of 12 net points over 12 races reflects maturity and composure across challenging conditions. His position as the first ever three-time national Optimist champion highlights not only his natural talent, but also the consistency and mental strength to lead the next wave of Canadian international youth sailors. His performance comes on the heels of winning Canada's first ever gold fleet race at the 2025 Opti Worlds in Slovenia and recording the best Canadian result since 1982.

RNSYS Completes Team-Racing Three-Peat

The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron's success in team racing was equally historic: capturing their third consecutive national team-racing title in 2025. Will was part of this powerhouse squad alongside Jacob JingBo Tu, Tia Kinnear, Simon Thompson, and Josef Moravec—a line-up that represents the future of Canadian youth sailing.

Their dominance in team racing builds on a string of victories and deep-rooted tactical expertise cultivated through RNSYS's high-performance youth program. The team-race format—with its low-point scoring, short courses and heavy tactical emphasis—puts a premium on split-second decisions, teamwork, and situational awareness. Team RNSYS brought all of that, in spades. The final races were contested in 25 knots of breeze, gusting to 28, and while the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club competed valiantly, the seasoned RNSYS team of 14-year-olds sailed well to win the best 2 of 3 final series, 2-0.

Worlds Qualification

The top five sailors aged 14 and under have qualified to represent Canada at the 2025 Optimist World Championships in Tangier, Morocco. They are Will Keilty (earning his 4th Worlds appearance), Jacob JingBo Tu (3rd qualification), Josef Moravec (2nd qualification), Tia Kinnear (1st qualification), and Harris He (1st qualification). This strong lineup underscores the depth of Canadian youth sailing talent heading onto the world stage.

Top Female Awards

The championship also celebrated the top three female sailors. Gold went to Tia Kinnear of RNSYS, silver to Ming Trebilcock of RVYC, and bronze to Sofia Absi of RStLYC. Their achievements highlighted the strength and promise of Canada's female sailors.

Racing Highlights and Community Energy

The regatta featured a varied competition that challenged sailors across all types of conditions:

• Fleet Racing: Qualification and Finals stretched from light, shifty wind days to wild, 28 knot gusts—testing both grit and adaptability. Sailors learned to adjust, reset, and hunt the "good stuff" through each tack and shift.

• Team Racing: The 4-on-4 tactical battles unfolded with scoring tight, quick-fire races—demanding smart positioning and clean teamwork on the water.

Off the course, the spirit of community was electric. From tailgating near the pool to pool-side BBQs, sailing remains as much about shared fun as it is about competition. Opening and closing ceremonies echoed sailing's legacy, with local heroes Allie Surette, Erin Rafuse, Max Flinn, Antonia & Georgia Lewin-Lafrance celebrated for their journey from Opti to world stage.

MetaSail GPS trackers—introduced for Opti in Canada for the first time—brought live, real-time sailing to beaches, clubs and living rooms.

Final Notes

The 2025 Canadian Optimist Nationals will be remembered not only for standout sailing, but also for the volunteers, families, and sponsors who made it possible. From safety crews and race officers to the countless parents and community members who staffed launches, kitchens, and mark boats, their dedication created the foundation for a safe and inspiring regatta.

RNSYS once again showed that excellence thrives in community. Its athletes, supported by generous sponsors and tireless volunteers, reflected the strength of a club culture that prioritizes development, inclusion, and enjoyment of the sport. Coaches, organizers, and donors alike helped deliver an event that showcased the best of Canadian sailing both on and off the water.

This championship crafted more than winners—it revealed pathways to future greatness. With athletes like Will, Jacob, Tia, Simon, Josef, Harris, Ming, Sophia and their peers, and the support system that surrounds them, Canadian youth sailing is charting a bright course. The community that made Halifax shine this week deserves as much recognition as the medals awarded on the podium.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	Fleet	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	Pts
1	Will Keilty	CAN 1918	Gold	RNSYS	1	[2]	2	[3]	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	12
2	JingBo Jacob TU	CAN 1870	Gold	RNSYS	2	1	1	1	3	[13]	3	3	3	3	2	[BFD]	22
3	Josef Moravec	CAN 1891	Gold	RNSYS	2	3	5	2	1	3	[28]	2	[12]	5	8	3	34
4	Tia Kinnear	CAN 1856	Gold	RNSYS	[12]	1	4	4	3	[12]	6	5	4	4	4	4	39
5	Harris He	CAN 1845	Gold	RVYC/WVYC	3	4	1	7	6	6	5	10	[14]	8	[22]	2	52
6	Simon Thompson	CAN 1878	Gold	RNSYS	1	2	4	2	1	21	7	9	9	[RET]	3	[BFD]	59
7	Oliver Chin	CAN 1818	Gold	PCYC	5	[25]	[25]	6	2	4	4	13	2	2	21	5	64
8	Ming Trebilcock	CAN 1860	Gold	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	3	7	10	7	5	5	[41]	15	8	[27]	7	9	76
9	Ryan Kirby	CAN 1893	Gold	RVYC/WVYC	5	10	8	8	5	8	9	[22]	5	9	9	[18]	76
10	Sofia Absi	CAN 1812	Gold	RStLYC	10	8	6	1	4	[24]	[37]	12	11	12	11	8	83
11	David Beasley‑Murray	CAN 1933	Gold	Royal Vancouver YC	6	3	3	5	11	9	8	[27]	[31]	23	6	11	85
12	Bobby MacLellan	CAN 1855	Gold	RNSYS	7	4	18	8	9	2	16	8	[20]	13	10	[20]	95
13	Callum Douglas	CAN 1471	Gold	Comox Bay Sailing	[23]	11	6	13	[20]	9	12	16	13	10	5	7	102
14	Benjamin Kirby	CAN 1888	Gold	West Vancouver Yacht Club	8	12	17	[20]	9	2	19	7	10	17	[36]	12	113
15	Adrian Durham	CAN 1928	Gold	RVYC	4	21	3	6	8	13	[25]	[32]	22	15	19	10	121
16	Zackaria Hashim	CAN 1334	Gold	Port Credit Yacht Club	27	15	12	20	[BFD]	3	2	4	7	6	[38]	27	123
17	Kyle Hui	CAN 1931	Gold	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	19	6	2	19	6	6	[51]	[29]	19	20	23	6	126
18	Michael Xie	CAN 1800	Gold	Port Credit Yacht Club	13	13	9	28	17	4	[34]	19	6	16	[33]	15	140
19	Miles Heeney	CAN 1768	Gold	WVYC	22	7	11	12	[39]	5	15	21	[37]	14	25	14	146
20	Kayden Lo	CAN 1485	Gold	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	10	10	14	16	12	17	23	24	15	21	[32]	[36]	162
21	Élise Sewina	CAN 1923	Gold	Pointe‑Claire yacht club	20	27	32	10	13	11	20	6	[33]	11	14	[42]	164
22	Franka Wainer Vivaldi	CAN 1927	Gold	Royal Vancouver YC	9	5	22	14	19	12	[45]	18	23	22	34	[40]	178
23	Logan Wright	CAN 1942	Gold	Port Credit Yacht Club	32	30	34	3	4	1	24	11	SCP 30%	7	[43]	[50]	178.2
24	Félix Racicot	CAN 1915	Gold	PCYC	7	11	17	30	10	10	[50]	39	[52]	30	17	13	184
25	YiYang Qiu	CAN 1916	Gold	RNSYS	16	13	8	18	17	7	17	[41]	32	39	24	[43]	191
26	Nathan Li	CAN 1867	Gold	Royal Van YC	16	8	15	22	10	22	21	33	[45]	34	16	[41]	197
27	Dylan Bowman	CAN 1668	Gold	RCYC	22	26	12	12	26	15	[40]	14	[29]	26	29	19	201
28	James Groom	CAN 1397	Gold	Port Credit Yacht Club	11	17	10	33	12	14	13	47	[48]	[49]	35	22	214
29	Hansen Huang	CAN 1934	Gold	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	8	15	11	18	19	30	18	36	21	[46]	[41]	39	215
30	Gavin Hardy	CAN 1656	Gold	West Vancouver Yacht Club	18	16	23	17	36	24	14	17	[44]	25	27	[37]	217
31	Lionel Bitibaly Sun	CAN 1175	Gold	RStLYC	27	9	20	24	22	14	38	23	[39]	31	[52]	16	224
32	Allie Boucher	CAN 1572	Gold	Pointe‑Claire Yacht Club	25	18	18	11	20	15	29	[49]	27	29	[48]	32	224
33	Alek Dumais	CAN 1648	Gold	Point Claire Yath Club	14	9	24	21	33	23	11	[37]	35	[44]	37	24	231
34	Asher Davis	CAN 1939	Gold	Hubbards Sailing Club	18	28	[34]	21	8	29	[44]	30	18	19	28	33	232
35	Arjen Liu‑Ernsting	CAN 1848	Gold	PCYC	31	22	27	24	7	8	32	[42]	28	28	26	[RET]	233
36	Kevin Kuan LIU	CAN 1763	Gold	RSTLYC	33	21	7	[UFD]	14	29	[52]	40	26	18	18	31	237
37	Benjamin Vittecoq	CAN 1612	Gold	Pointe Claire Yacht Club	19	19	9	9	23	36	26	28	[51]	41	[47]	28	238
38	Theo Zvezdonkin	CAN 1843	Gold	RCYC	15	24	15	31	32	19	30	35	[36]	[40]	15	23	239
39	Reid LaRoche	CAN 1775	Gold	RNSYS	9	5	7	[UFD]	16	22	47	[51]	17	42	30	48	243
40	Jessie Gao	CAN 1790	Gold	RNSYS/BLVD	17	27	13	15	11	11	[43]	43	43	35	[46]	29	244
41	Ebbi Hare	CAN 1709	Gold	HSC	28	14	19	25	28	28	27	20	34	[43]	[40]	21	244
42	Oliver Worthington	CAN 1882	Gold	RNSYS	34	29	27	4	14	20	35	[46]	38	32	13	[44]	246
43	Mack Cullen	CAN 1795	Gold	RVYC/WVYC	17	31	21	26	7	16	31	50	[DNS]	[UFD]	12	38	249
44	Sophie Carroll	CAN 1260	Gold	RNSYS	6	6	16	29	24	31	[46]	45	30	37	[51]	30	254
45	Elliot Beaudoin‑Taylor	CAN 1553	Gold	CVGR	25	24	26	10	35	10	22	44	[46]	24	[45]	34	254
46	Luca Moller	CAN 1921	Gold	PCYC	23	17	24	28	15	30	[48]	26	25	33	39	[46]	260
47	Elliott Nakagawa	CAN 1950	Gold	Royal Victoria Yacht Club	4	23	21	22	28	35	[49]	48	[49]	47	20	17	265
48	Graham Noakes	CAN 1946	Gold	RNSYS / SMSC	12	12	5	34	18	37	[RET]	25	24	[RET]	RET	47	268
49	Matthew Honsa	CAN 1728	Gold	RCYC	26	36	25	9	35	18	10	38	[40]	36	[44]	35	268
50	Daniel Bonaci	USA 22702	Gold	West Vancouver Yacht Club	20	20	28	11	27	25	36	[52]	47	[48]	31	25	270
51	Nima Kherghehpoush	CAN 1798	Gold	CVGR	37	25	19	33	16	20	39	31	[42]	[45]	42	26	288
52	Mia Gill	CAN 1739	Gold	CVGR	29	32	30	23	25	7	33	34	[50]	38	[50]	45	296
53	Yannick Godbout	CAN 1624	Gold	Gatineau River Yacht Club	24	14	20	19	48	21	42	[53]	41	[50]	49	49	327
54	IVY GAO	CAN 1926	Silver	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	[38]	28	16	16	[44]	19	9	1	4	1	2	9	105
55	Ebrahim Sheikh	CAN 1959	Silver	RVYC/GSC/WVYC	24	23	30	13	[34]	[45]	2	3	9	7	6	6	123
56	Asli Memis	CAN 1917	Silver	PCYC	[39]	18	23	23	24	[31]	10	8	2	3	5	10	126
57	Victoria Carroll	CAN 1745	Silver	RNSYS	13	[RET]	22	36	26	[42]	13	4	5	6	3	4	132
58	Nixon Huang	CAN 930	Silver	Royal Vancouver Yacht Club	[40]	[39]	32	15	18	26	6	6	11	12	4	8	138
59	Simon Luttmer	CAN 1322	Silver	RCYC	15	22	13	27	[45]	39	3	7	8	5	[DSQ]	1	140
60	Alistair Dawes	CAN 1748	Silver	Britannia Yacht Club	21	19	[31]	17	[33]	27	17	11	7	16	14	5	154
61	Kian Condliffe	CAN 1829	Silver	Comox Bay Sailing	[DNC]	33	[36]	30	21	27	1	12	1	2	1	28	156
62	Scarlett Harris	CAN 1945	Silver	Calgary Yacht Club	11	[40]	14	27	29	[35]	33	10	12	20	8	11	175
63	Fadei Xu	CAN 1964	Silver	RVanYC	[NSC]	33	29	[48]	31	28	4	2	13	10	12	15	177
64	Victoria Hoskin	CAN 1720	Silver	Britannia Yacht Club	14	16	26	[31]	29	[40]	20	14	3	27	9	19	177
65	Varo Reynoldson	CAN 1880	Silver	Pyc	[DNC]	[DNC]	29	29	13	17	8	13	25	9	10	29	182
66	Eliana Siegel	CAN 1711	Silver	Waegwoltic	[36]	[42]	35	32	30	25	18	15	23	11	7	2	198
67	Finley Hoffmann	CAN 1912	Silver	Calgary Yacht Club	30	26	[37]	14	27	[41]	21	20	15	13	31	12	209
68	Léoghan Bath	CAN 1676	Silver	CVGR	26	30	28	38	[46]	[40]	16	19	16	4	13	20	210
69	Antoni Jecz	CAN 1822	Silver	RSTLYC	[RET]	32	33	26	40	16	12	5	6	21	[DSQ]	25	216
70	Cooper Lenzi	CAN 1677	Silver	Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club	[DNC]	DNC	[DNC]	35	15	18	5	17	24	29	19	7	222
71	Galen Condliffe	CAN 1358	Silver	Comox Bay Sailing	31	[41]	40	37	25	34	7	9	14	15	26	[DNC]	238
72	Didier Geoffrion	CAN 1771	Silver	Royal Saint Lawrence Yacht Club	29	[RET]	[DNC]	5	21	26	11	UFD	10	8	23	DNC	239
73	Ethan Guindon	CAN 1405	Silver	Britannia yacht club	34	[38]	38	[39]	31	33	22	16	22	17	15	14	242
74	Matilda Mercer	CAN 1820	Silver	Port Credit Yacht Club	[44]	38	[42]	32	23	23	30	18	21	23	20	33	261
75	Alex MacLean	CAN 1806	Silver	BBYC	21	35	[DNC]	40	[RET]	DNC	14	33	20	22	21	3	262
76	Brayden Head	CAN 1970	Silver	RKYC	28	20	31	37	45	[46]	[46]	24	34	26	27	17	289
77	William Jenkins	CAN 1678	Silver	Charlottetown Yacht Club	35	37	[DNC]	25	[43]	34	32	26	31	34	17	22	293
78	Liam Wells	CAN 1496	Silver	RNYC	41	31	33	40	30	[42]	25	27	28	[42]	18	27	300
79	Carsten Oliver	CAN 1663	Silver	RCYC	36	34	41	43	[50]	[50]	29	30	32	19	22	24	310
80	Ella Childs	CAN 427	Silver	RNSYS	30	29	[DNC]	34	36	38	26	22	18	25	[DNC]	DNC	311
81	Angela Wang	CAN 1876	Silver	RNSYS	37	45	44	41	22	38	28	23	17	18	[DNC]	[DNC]	313
82	Viktor Hudon	CAN 572	Silver	Pointe‑Claire Yacht Club	38	[43]	36	39	[49]	37	39	40	29	40	11	18	327
83	Violet Lackey	CAN 1743	Silver	Britannia Yacht Club	45	[RET]	[DNC]	35	37	49	19	29	19	UFD	25	16	327
84	Taylor Jones	CAN 1261	Silver	RNYC	41	[44]	38	38	37	41	[47]	37	27	35	16	23	333
85	Jude Levangie	CAN 11	Silver	RNSYS	32	34	39	44	42	32	24	31	37	30	[DNC]	[DNC]	345
86	Christophe Lauzon	CAN 634	Silver	Yacht Club de Québec	[UFD]	[DNC]	DNC	46	48	32	15	28	40	33	28	26	349
87	Jasper Bostick	CAN 1941	Silver	Pelican Yacht Club	[DNC]	[RET]	DNC	36	32	33	27	25	26	14	DNC	DNC	352
88	Cameron White	CAN 1532	Silver	RKYC	33	39	37	45	38	46	[51]	32	42	[47]	24	21	357
89	Emily Bonaci	USA 15566	Silver	West Vancouver Yacht Club	[DNC]	36	43	47	42	[52]	34	44	38	36	33	32	385
90	Mason Wright	CAN 1634	Silver	PCYC	40	37	40	[52]	44	[49]	45	47	36	32	35	30	386
91	Farrah Levangie	CAN 1646	Silver	RNSYS	[DNC]	[DNC]	RET	42	40	47	23	21	30	28	DNC	DNC	391
92	Justin Simms	CAN 1310	Silver	RNSYS	35	35	35	42	41	43	40	38	46	43	[DNC]	[DNC]	398
93	Justin Lauzon	CAN 1647	Silver	Yacht Club de Québec	39	[DNC]	[DNC]	50	38	43	44	48	DNS	48	29	13	405
94	Thomas Childs	CAN 171	Silver	RNSYS	[RET]	[RET]	DNC	43	43	36	36	36	33	24	DNC	DNC	410
95	Sarvin Panu‑Metsaranta	CAN 1710	Silver	Brittannia Yacht Club	[DNC]	[DNC]	39	49	47	45	38	34	39	UFD	30	DNC	427
96	Julia Bosquillon	CAN 1660	Silver	Yacht club de Québec	[DNC]	[DNC]	DNC	51	51	48	43	46	48	37	32	31	440
97	Annie Keilty	CAN 1869	Silver	RNSYS	[RET]	[DNC]	DNC	44	39	44	37	43	43	31	DNC	DNC	441
98	Maximus Searle	CAN 1969	Silver	RKYC	[DNC]	[DNC]	DNC	41	50	44	48	35	45	39	34	DNC	442
99	Willow Nicoll	CAN 1823	Silver	RNSYS	43	[RET]	[DNC]	45	34	39	42	49	47	41	DNC	DNC	446
100	Sabette Luther	CAN 1731	Silver	RNSYS	[RET]	[DNC]	DNC	47	49	50	35	41	35	45	DNC	DNC	461
101	Zoey Bostick	CAN 1356	Silver	Pelican Yacht Club	[DNS]	[DNC]	DNC	46	47	48	49	39	41	38	DNC	DNC	468
102	Theo Beck	CAN 1493	Silver	LYC/RNSYS	[DNC]	RET	[DNC]	49	41	51	41	42	44	44	DNC	DNC	471
103	Ludovic Rioux	CAN 1965	Silver	Écovoile	[RET]	[DNC]	DNC	51	46	47	31	DNC	49	46	DNC	DNC	482
104	Faye LaRoche	CAN 177	Silver	RNSYS	42	40	[RET]	50	52	[53]	50	45	50	RET	DNC	DNC	488
105	Matéo Imbeau	CAN 1159	Silver	Yatch club de québec	[DNC]	[DNC]	DNC	48	51	51	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	521