A couple of weeks ago the Volvo Gill Optimist Nationals were held in Largs, Scotland. During that week we held a competition to win a Regatta Master Watch, with four runner-up prizes of a Gill wallet. For the competition, the young sailors had to write about their favourite sailing experiences. Here are the winning stories, which were selected on a mixture of creativity, particularly special moments, and also who used the most number of different coloured pens.

Overall winner: Sebastian Shilling, age 10

It was a cold breezy Sunday morning and the clouds were grey. When we got to South Shields the harbour water looked very light compared to yesterday, which was really windy and I was a bit scared. The day before was super windy and the weaves were huge, not conditions I’m used to. When I got home that evening I told my mum and did not want to go the next day, and they told me to sleep on it and decide in the morning. I felt much better in the morning. But today was much lighter.

When we rigged our boats we had to go to the briefing in the club. After our exercise we launched and went out to sea. Unfortunately for me, the waves were big again, 2 metre swells, and I was nervous. But something magical happened: a pod of dolphins popped up around us to have a little nosey. How amazing it was! Can you imagine our luck? Dolphins are my favourite animals in the world. It was the best experience for me and the other sailors. The dolphins stayed for ages, and one even came really close to my boat. We were so thrilled and now I think I have overcome my fear of sea sailing.

Whenever I go back I look for dolphins. I have only seen them once since, on my birthday when we hired a friend’s rib and zoomed around the harbour and shoreline. My friends were with me too, which made it extra special. My mum made me a dolphin cake as well. I’m dolphin crazy and can’t wait to see more when I’m sailing in other places.

Iris Singleton, age 11

My favourite sailing experience was in Zone Squad on one weekend when it was really windy. We tried going out to do some actual sailing buy 50 knots turned out to be a bit too windy and a little bit cold. Instead, Katie (our zone coach) decide that we would do bin bag racing. For those of you who don’t know what this is, you have a bin bag instead of a sail! I went in a pair with my best friend Hazel and we WON! It was so much fun, but one I think I learnt was that sailing is not about winning all the races It is about getting out there whatever the weather and having FUN!

Hazel McDonnell, age 11

My favourite time sailing was when I was about 7. It was at my sailing club (Hollowell) and I was crewing for Rob. I was sailing with him in the bahia, because in the race before he sailed it with his children but they capsized and didn’t want to go out again so I went out instead. The reason this race was so special was because of the end. First of all we won the race without handicap. But at the end of the race, just after the finish, Rob threw me in. But they didn’t take the photo in time, so he had to throw me in again and again and when they got the photo I was really wet and happy.

Freya Sewell, age 10

Hi, my name is Frey and I’m aged 10 (nearly 11!). My favourite sailing experience includes my brother Haydn, and the rest of Team GBR Development Team. This year we went to France to compete in the French nationals. My mum, dad and myself camped and Haydn stayed in the team house. The weather was sooo hot and the water sooo clear. Racing didn’t start until the afternoon so in the mornings we went crabbing and found huge crabs. I made lots of new friends including my new overseas bestie from USA.

It was Haydn’s 14th birthday when we were there so we decorated his boat with bunting, balloons and party poppers. We also put lots of chattering teeth in there! We hid his oppie and videoed him looking for it. He panicked when he thought he’d lost it. It was so funny. That night we all had a Chinese takeaway on the beach (with Team GBR) and lit lanterns. Talking of food I had lots of amazing crepes covered in Nutella – yum!

Mum and dad took heaps of photos including one of me on my brother’s shoulders carrying the UK flag during the opening ceremony. It’s so cool. There’s another photo of me smiling lots and jumping up and down because I got an 8th place in a race. On the last day I went paddle boarding and kayaking with everyone. I had the most amazing time in France. Great weather, great racing and I made great friends. I can’t wait to go again.

Ben Perkins, age 12

As a family we went to the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. We charted a yacht from Sunsail that was a Jeanneau 41. At the start we sailed to Peter Island where we stayed the night and in the morning me and my brother Olly went snorkelling off a pebbly beach, where we saw some cool fish. After that we sailed to Dead Man’s Bay, which had amazing palm trees and a steel band which had great music.

Then we sailed to Cooper Island. My favourite part was when we were snorkelling off the Island and I saw and amazing purple angle fish that was the length of my little finger. And my other favourite part was when we snorkelled over the wreck of the RMS Rhome and I dived down and touched the rusty stern post. Also we went to The Baths that had amazing granite caves made by a volcano. Then we went swimming and the water was very warm. I really enjoyed sailing to Anegada, and island twenty five miles from the other. The wind that blew was so arm.

The next day we set off to Sand Cay. I was really surprised I took five hours. I slept for an hour while we were sailing, annoyingly. When we arrived we had man amazing walk on the perfect tropical island. It felt like the island was moving as there were so many hermit crabs scuttling around! The last bit of the trip was on Jost Van Dyke when we went to Bubbly Pool where waves crashed on the rocks and slash over you, which was awesome. Then we had an amazing sail back to the marine where the waves splashed on the boat, it was awesome.