Good results at Sail Auckland Regatta

Cook Islands sailors Helema Williams, Taua Elisa, Aquila Tatira and Teau McKenzie have posted impressive results after the Sail Auckland Regatta in New Zealand.

The sailors now look forward to the next leg of the Olympic qualifier series to be held in Germany at the end of April.

Racing in shifty conditions over the regatta the Cook Islands sailors showed plenty of promise.

In the end, Taua Elisa placed 23rd overall in the laser open men’s division while Aquila Tatira placed 21st overall and 9th overall in the laser youth division.

Helema Williams came 23rd overall and 4th in the laser radial women’s division.

Fellow female sailor Teau McKenzie placed 32nd overall and 3rd in the youth female division.

Anne Tierney says it’s back to the drawing board for the sailors.

“It’s back to the drawing board with self analysis, and more training to get even fitter, training partners to help us improve techniques where we need it,” says Tierney.

Tatira, Williams and Elisa return to Rarotonga for more training while McKenzie will remain in New Zealand where she is schooling.

Tierney adds that both Williams and Elisa will have a solid training programme when they return home as they work towards their final opportunity to qualify for the Olympics at the World Laser Championships in Germany.

The qualifier will be a huge event similar to that the local sailors attended in Perth late last year.