Older salt manages a rare double

Friday 7: It’s hard enough to win a national sailing title and to win two in the same year is even more difficult.

When you are over 60 years of age it would be considered by most to be near impossible.

But this month Tony Heays from Avana won a Sunburst National title to add to his Tangaroa Vaka National Title achieved earlier this year, giving him

the coveted ‘double’.

The two handed Sunburst Championships were held in ideal conditions on Muri Lagoon with 11 Sunbursts vying for two titles.

The traditional wooden class was a runaway win for Tony Heays with young Israel Miles as crew and tactician (8 points) Second was Jeff Hill with Jordan Howley (20 points) and 3rd was Danique Van Wijk with Amy Read (21 points). They also won the top female crew award.

The faster and newer fibreglass fleet trophy was closely fought for with Aquila Tatira and Mareko Davis (Aitutaki) coming out the eventual winners (13 points) after some great tussles with Junior Charlie and Teau McKenzie (Manihiki/Rarotonga 2nd on 16 points) and Tanus Henry with novice crew Junior Ward (Rarotonga) 17 points)

Other results: Wooden class – Jan Kristensson and Wolfgang Losacker ( Rarotonga 4th) ,Rick Hickling and Josiah Mills (Rarotonga 5th) and Anne Tierney with her crew of triplets ( Rarotonga 6th).

Fibreglass class – David Paolo and Turoa (Aitutaki - 4th), Brian Tumu and Raymond Mitchell (Aitutaki - 5th).

Sailing Cook Islands wishes to thank the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this national champs such a success. - SCI