Oceania Sailing Federation makes its mark on the Splash Worlds

by Richard Gladwell on 8 Jan 2010
The fledgling Oceania Sailing Federation asserted itself on Wednesday at the 2010 Splash World Championships when two competitors led the Yellow fleet around the first mark off Takapuna. There are five countries from Oceania Sailing Federation (plus New Zealand) represented at the World Championship in the fleet of 75 competitors from 11 countries.

Tu'iemanu Ripley (14) of American Samoa rounded the first mark in first place in the first of the two races sailed to conclude the Qualifying Round of the regatta. Second was Mabelle Humrich from Samoa. Defending World Champion Declan Burn (NZL) was buried in the pack.

The two sailors emphasized the depth of the talent in the Oceania Sailing Federation with Tu'iemanu Ripley rounding first, followed by a second female, Mabelle. This Splash World Championship is an open fleet with females competing on an equal basis with the men.

It was a very satisfying moment for Andre Raoult, President of the Oceania Sailing Federation which was finally sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation last November after a six year struggle to pass through the bureaucratic processes.

Raoult is a member of the International Jury for the World Championship, and is adjudicating on the water each day, however as luck would have it, he was assigned to the other fleet and did not see the outstanding achievement of 'his' two girls.

'It is the first time they have ever seen a Splash boat', he said. 'So it is a truly remarkable achievement in a fleet of this caliber which includes several world champions.'

Both sailors are aged 14 and 16 years respectively, this is not their first international competition having sailed in the Pacific Games in Aututaki in Laser Radials.

Another OSAF sailor, Etienne Le Pen, from Noumea, won the Open European championship in the Splash class in 2009.

Some OSAF teenage supporters are providing some coaching and on the water support those who travelled to NZ.

Raoult says that the next stage for the Oceania Sailing Federation should be to stage the a youth single handed championship in the Optimist and Laser 4.7 classes.

'Those under 15 will be in the Optimist and those older in the Laser 4.7.'

'As we are now affiliated to ISAF it means we have better access to coaching and development', says Raoult. 'So we can only go from strength to strength, now'