MORNINGTON Yacht Club wrapped up its 2026 Winter Training Camp series this weekend. Sixty-six junior and youth sailors spent three days on the water from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September.
Sailors in Optimists, 420s, 29ers and ILCAs came from across the Peninsula and interstate to train under head coach Casey Imeneo. Casey and fellow Olympic hopeful Laura Harding both took time out of their own campaigns to coach the program. They were joined by five-time world champion Mark Bulka and by Jack Saul, Larry Cargill, Immi Weber, Tyrone Gowans and Will McKenzie, each a champion sailor in their own right.
The Peninsula served up a bit of everything across the weekend, from light 3-knot breezes to gusts of 19 knots, giving sailors a chance to build their skills in a full range of conditions. The standout was Saturday’s downwind focus, with many of the classes completing a long downwind sail along the coast while much of Melbourne was getting ready to tune in to the Grand Final.
Off the water, Casey and Laura shared their own sailing journeys in a “Champions in Conversation” session hosted by Larry Cargill. Their message was down-to-earth. There’s a place in sailing for everyone, whether you race or not, and it’s worth giving everything a go because you never know where it might lead.
Keen to get involved? The spring sailing season starts soon, and everyone is welcome. Open Day is on Saturday 24 October. It’s a great chance to try sailing, meet the coaches and find out what’s on offer this summer.
First published in the Mornington News – 29 September 2026
