17 sailors in record Optimist fleet

The 2012 RSC Optimist Championships had the biggest optimist fleet ever of keen young sailors to have challenged for the title.

Seventeen keen sailors registered to compete and after a good briefing from race officer Tuks Turia and umpire Peter Heays, they took to the water in two fleets in the club’s great little fibreglass optimist fleet.

These boats were new to the club late last year and were dedicated as part of the weekend’s fun activities.

Twelve sponsors have taken up sponsorship of these boats and attended the ceremony to hear Pastor Tereora bless the boats then each cracked a nu and poured it over ”their“ boat.

Sponsors then climbed aboard sponsor Pacific Resort’s cruiser to watch an hour of sailing before returning to dry land.

Prospective keen sponsors might like to consider the ”Jelly Beans“ – bright coloured plastic boats which represent the powerhouse of the junior fleet in that they are the learn to sail fleet used for beginner sailors and the sailing in schools programme.

Day one saw five races completed in each fleet and the format for the day on Monday sorted the fleet into Gold and Silver fleets so that the stronger sailors were competing against each other, making each fleet very competitive.

By the end of the competition Eseta Ailaouamaua had established a very narrow lead of one point (eight points) to take out the championship from TeAkoua Framhein (nine points), who has been sailing for about 18 months, with Tyler Davis sailing an excellent regatta to come in third place with 11 points. Only four points separated the first three places.

Eseta was also awarded the best girl sailor, but as she already has a watch donated the prize to second girl Makua Nikoia who finished in a very good fifth place, on equal points with Ioane Moore – who took fourth on a count back.

Most improved went to Tautika Ioane who sailed a very solid regatta – including a second and two thirds in the rounds.

Remaining sailors Helene Johnson, Martin Obeda, Tamarua Marsters, Finn Pearson, Freddy Markwell, Jennae davis, Steve Mac, Jade Tierney, Saoirse Tierney, Olis Fruh and JD Sijp also had a fantastic time on the water.