Eseta sets sail

Twelve-year-old sailing sensation Eseta Ailaouamaua, pictured below receiving the 2010 Rarotonga Sailing Club Open Championship trophy from sponsor Paul Pearson and coach Tony Heays (back), has managed to get to Australia for a sailing regatta thanks to the support from local sailors and the community at large.

A sailathon fundraiser was held for Ailaouamaua to attend the Australia Optimist Sailing Championships in Sydney which she was invited to.

Ailaouamaua flew out back Australia on Tuesday where she will spend a week in Melbourne training before taking on the Aussies at the Optimist sailing championships in Sydney.

Ailaouamaua’s ultimate goal is to race at the World Optimist Championships in New Zealand in 2012 but before then – the budding sailing champion is hoping to compete at the Oceania Optimist and sailing championships and the Easter weekend New Zealand Optimist sailing championships.

And thanks to the sponsorship from the local community – Ailaouamaua is sure to achieve her sailing goals.