Aitutaki is to host its first Electron World Fleet and Match Sailing Regatta on the lagoon.

Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, New Zealand, Rarotonga and Aitutaki sailors, and their supporters will be on the island from Friday, May 27 to contest this first ever major event against a world class backdrop that is Aitutaki Lagoon.

Day one of racing on May 28 will see competitors launch their boats from Ootu Beach, with day-two, Sunday May 29, from the decks of Titi Ai Tonga anchored off Motu Akaiami on Aitutaki Lagoon.

Sailors, their spouses and supporters are looking forward to the weekend event which starts with the welcome dinner at Avatea Cafe on the Friday, and ends with the farewell dinner and prize giving celebrations at Koru Cafe on Sunday, May 29.

Electron sailing boats are a one metre class radio-controlled yacht, each hand built by the late Des Townson – a New Zealand icon for sailing and yacht designs.

There are more than 2000 of his Electrons being sailed across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Kris Goodwin, a Rarotonga based Electron sailor said: “They sail and perform like a real yacht, except the skipper sails from the shore sending sail settings and boat directions via a hand-held radio transmitter to the boat.”

“Electron racing is sort of like three dimensional chess on water, where good hand and eye co-ordination and appraising wind and water conditions from a distance are crucial in efficiently transferring the correct radio commands to one’s boat, all the time avoiding collisions with other boats and rounding each of the set course marks correctly, and as a bonus you don’t get wet.”

In 2019 a small group of Aitutaki enthusiasts formed the “Awesome Aitutaki Electron Club” (AAEC), acquired four second hand Electrons and started Aitutaki Electron sailing.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic put much of their activity on hold as most of the core members left for work in New Zealand.

Early in 2021, the AAEC and the Aitutaki Sailing Club banded together and held a Rarotonga versus Aitutaki Electron Regatta which was so successful it gave confidence to the organisers to successfully bid for the 2022 World Championships.

Fast forward to 2022 and two of the New Zealand sailors attending are ex World Electron Champions, so their participation will decidedly raise the bar for the local sailors to aspire to.

Rarotonga sailors Kris Goodwin, Peter and Tony Heays, and Des Eggelton are ranked as the top local sailors, and are known to be quite competitive, and could cause a few upsets.

It is anticipated that over the two days, competition will be fierce, pitting New Zealand experience against local enthusiasm.

Aitutaki Electron Club commodore Thomas Koteka said the island had previously hosted two regattas, one in 2005 when a group of sailors added a side trip to Aitutaki after the World Championships on Rarotonga, and in 2021 - the Rarotonga versus Aitutaki Challenge.

Koteka said the first Electrons appeared on Rarotonga in the late 90s, the original founding members of the class on the island were Peter Heays, Des Eggelton and Thomas Koteka.

“Due to Covid-19 the numbers from New Zealand are not as good as we would like but it was decided to carry on regardless,” Koteka said.

“We have nine New Zealanders, two months ago we had 18 registered, but due to the erratic border controls at the time many decided not to travel.

“We have 10 from Rarotonga and six from Aitutaki registered for the event at this time.

There are some “stragglers” who have yet to commit, he said.

“All in all, we will have a gathering of up to 40 sailors and supporters which by Aitutaki standards is a large number.

“At the 2021 event we had about the same number but all from Rarotonga and Aitutaki.”

Koteka said the Electron radio-controlled yacht is an authentic sailing model yacht.

“It is suitable for beginners to sail as well as producing exciting and challenging racing for the most experienced yachtsman.

“The Electron is not a toy boat, but a miniature version of a real yacht.

“The majority of the owners are mainly retired persons with a passion for sailing, although there are many without sailing experience who have taken up the sport.

“The Electron yacht does everything a real yacht does on the water and good hand eye co-ordination helps with sending instructions to the boat by transmitter.”

Depending on the sailing conditions, competition can be very demanding on the sailor as one has to have total concentration focused on their boat for more than 10 to 15 minutes during a race; any distractions will be penalised in placing, rule offences and boat collisions. 

“I have seen many tense moments between sailors due to tardy operations of one’s boat,” Koteka added.

“While racing is mostly serious stuff, there are the fun times as well with special novelty courses to tests one’s skills not to mention the long-distance races.”