Big winds a tough test

Changing weather conditions have posed a special challenge for the Cook Islands sailing squad competing at the New Zealand National Laser Championships in Auckland.

Squad manager and local coach Anne Tierney reports that the Cook Islands squad are competing strongly in the tough conditions under the watchful eye of coach Laura Baldwin.

After a beautiful couple of days while training on the Hauraki Gulf in preparation for New Zealand National Laser Championships, Laser Team Cook Islands started off yesterday in changing weather conditions on the first day of competition, with 180 boats contesting various titles.

“Weather pundits are forecasting a quickly developing front from the tropics with winds of up to 45 knots arriving today, and it’s already here,” said Tierney. “There’s no visibility out there and winds are already screaming! We are waiting for sailing to be officially canned for the day.

“That pretty well sets the scene for the first day as winds shifted all day requiring the marks to reset several times during the day and mad wind shifts during the racing, switching favoured sides and generally demanding high concentration and more than a little luck!

“Very experienced international sailors got caught out with the wrong choices and with all the changes sailing didn’t finish until well after 5pm.”

The 4.7 fleet started with 29 entries, including our own Teau McKenzie and Toka Narayan.

McKenzie placed 22 and 16 to lie 20th while Narayan placed 4 and 19 to lie 8th.

In the Laser Radial Fleet, Helema Williams and Aquila Tatira took on a fleet of mixed youth sailors and women sailors in a total fleet of 59. Williams placed 36 and 9 to lie 5th woman and Aquila placed 14 and 30 to lie 15th.

The men’s open Standard Class is strong with New Zealand’s best sailors carrying on the same series of regattas as our young men.

Taua Eliza is in 21st with a 23 and 18 placing while Junior Charlie lies 24th with 24 and 23 placing. The second day was spent ashore with rest and theory the order of the day – it was also Aquila Tatira’s birthday!

The winds were everywhere and the seas were pounding and flooding all the East Coast beaches making them totally un-sailable.

CI Laser squad Coach Laura Baldwin was out on the water all day observing and consulting between races and putting in invaluable feedback for her sailors. Her wide experience as a National Representative and Olympian is complimented by a strong coaching talent, and has resulted in a very happy, focused and competitive squad regimen.

The squad is staying at the North Shore Holiday Park and can be reached via email on anne@jta.co.ck or phone 006421402929.