Oceania Sailing 2014 - 120 sailors participate in the event in Nouméa

by Oceania Sailing on 4 Jun 2014 From June 7th to June 10th, 2014 the Oceania Sailing will be organized in Nouméa. Six countries of Pacific Islands will be present in New-Caledonia during this event. During these four days, young competitors and adults will compete between themselves on Optimist, Laser, Hobie 16, Kitesurf and Elliott 6. They will sail on three different places which are: Côte blanche, Pointe Magnin and Baie des citrons) Besides crowing the Oceania champion, these competitions will also allow to crown the Caledonian champion of each discipline.

More than 120 sailors from Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Australia, New-Zealand, and New-Caledonia are responded present to the invitation of the Caledonian sailing league and OSAF (Oceania Sailing Federation). For the president of the Caledonian league, Philippe Mazard 'the goal of this competition is to bring foreigners, to raise the level of our races and also to be prepare for the 2015 South Pacific Games of PNG. We have the human resources and the materials necessary to lodge the Oceania nations, to which we want to give them the desire to organize in their turn, the Oceania Sailing. This international event will also boost sailing in New Caledonia, which is realized in particular by the significant participation of two northern clubs. The youth of the 'Toiles du lagon' in Koumac and the 'Coup d’ouest' in Koné will therefore taste a form of competition more higher than the accustomed one'.

For Sam Launay, the technical adviser of the Caledonian sailing league and Principal Race Officer of the competition, 'These competitions are very interesting because they concern all of our sportsmen'. He underlines 'a strong heterogeneity of level' and 'rules, duration and international format race devices'.

Four foreign crews will have to mislead our seven Caledonian crews. This competition, run as duels, is the annual appointment of New-Caledonia match race. The Vincent Trinquet’s crews, Tugdual Piriou’s or Alan Quéré’s will try to intercalate themselves on the podium. The crew of Georges Brassel from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) serves as favorite. But the crew of Sam Ellis, sent by the Youth Sailing Academy of the Crusing Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) will do him no favors. Another crew of the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club (RPEYC) surrounded by Tom Spithill (the little brother of the skipper of Oracle, winner of the last America's Cup) led by Nick Connor does not matter make up the numbers as the other kiwi crew, including the local skipper Lucas Chatonnier who joined the Youth Academy at the beginning of the year. The performances and progress of the Caledonian are to be followed closely.

Two crews of Wallis and Futuna led by Salaika Tu'ulaki and Jean-Jacques Halakilikili will attempt to unseat the Caledonian experienced crew of Christophe Renaud (vice-champion of the discipline in 2007). The succession let by the Thomas’ brothers is also to be follow closely. Enguerrand and Cyriac were ranked ninth in Open and fourth in the Youth World Championships raced in Australia earlier this year. Female crew Noa Ancian and Juliette Le Tenier will also try to get noticed.

Four categories (little and youngest children, boys and girls) will sail in fleet. Four New Zealander and actually a Fijian, will attempt to climb up the highest steps of the podium. Five youth of the 'Toiles du lagon' in Koumac will certainly make people talking about them. Young Theo Goetzinger could bring back a beautiful medal for the Northern Province. In the smallest category, Clement Bouvet and Clement Masson in the boys and Juliette Bone and Lola Vergé in the girls dream for gold. In the youngest children category, kiwis will try to take over Camille Goudie, a registered of the SRC. In the 'under 13' category, everyone is impatient to see the young prodigal sailor who -eight years, Aurel Martin- which outperforms older sailors. Sam Launay says that 'this competition will allow these young people to get noticed and especially to better understand the pressure of racing at world-class.'

16 Laser will sail in fleet: one New Zealander and apparently two Fijians will sail with 13 other North and South Caledonians. According to Sam Launay these races are, 'an opportunity to prove, to gain experience, and to show up in good moves'. In the absence of the best Caledonian (Maxime Mazard and Etienne Lepen who are in the pôle espoir in France) the competition will be wide open. Three categories are represented. Laser Standard (for larger gauges-80 kg), the Fiji Robert Hazelman, should monopolize medals. Radial, among boys, the fight should be Caledonian. Mikael Farina and Cyril Fortin are both selected for the Championships of France. At the girls, Lauren Hautier will face the Fijian Naomi Tupou. In Laser 4.7 among girls, this will be the Northern crews to be followed closely with as Ambassador Pauline Berhault, Marie Laennec and Lana Hamon. Among boys, the fight between the South Caledonian elite led by Mael and Nathan Lepen or Benjamin Maire should be very interesting

About thirty participants all Caledonians are expected on the famous water of the Kitesurf World cup of PKRA. The competition, in addition to being the Caledonian championship of the discipline, is also the selection for the France championship. Very tactical path will be run between three floaters. The majority of these kiteboards speed will be equipped with foils and hovering above the water. Manolo Barlet, former fun board and kitesurf champion makes his great return. But it might be hard to deal with Guy Kane, who just come back from the international of foils in La Ciotat.