The Rarotonga Sailing Club (RSC) is pleased to be hosting sailors and coaches from Tahiti this week for the Rarotonga-Tahiti Sailing Challenge.

Tahiti coaches Jessee Besson and Gillies dePreville and their eight sailors were welcomed at the Rarotonga International Airport on Saturday by Pa Marie Upokotini Ariki and Chris Fenwick, RSC executive member.

RSC welcomed the Tahiti group at the club in Muri on Saturday evening with a barbeque.

Fenwick said the event proved to be very successful and was a great chance for the sailors to meet each other and enjoy some beach games and laughter ahead of the racing.

Nine local sailors coached by RSC coach Jacobo Miquel will compete against the Tahitian sailors in the Optimist Class, Laser 4.7 Class and Vaka races, which started yesterday.

Fenwick says the focus for both clubs is to provide a competitive regatta for these young sailors and to further develop their racing skills and race regatta experience.

“We expect to have close racing that will test the sailors but also to have a lot of fun during the week.”

Regattas between the Rarotonga and Tahiti clubs date back to at least 1997. Both clubs are looking forward to the 2025 Polynesian Championship (hosted by Tahiti) and various New Zealand National Championships. This regatta and race experience will build towards the future events.

• Melina Etches

Programme

The race programme from today is as follows: Optimist XPF/Laser 4.7: Race start is at 2pm - Tuesday 22 October and Friday 25 October. Vaka: Wednesday 23 October 2024 (Practise Day) and Thursday 24 October 2024 (Racing). Prizegiving will be held on Friday 25 October.