Competitors unite at South Pacific Games

by Katrina Jocumsen (ISAF amended) on 3 Sep 2007 The South Pacific Games 2007 sailors who competed on day three of competition were some of the first in the world to take part in a global celebration of sailing.

Members of different South Pacific Games sailing teams ranging from Samoa to the Solomon Islands, posed this morning at 0900 holding the ISAF flag bearing the logo that was specially commissioned for this event.

Commenting on the ISAF event, Chief Sailing Judge, Ralph Roberts, said the opportunity to participate now meant teams from all the nations competing at the Games were united under the ‘sail the world’ event.

‘The South Pacific Games are excited to be a part of the ISAF family as they celebrate one hundred years of sailing', said Mr Roberts.

The event aims to get as many people world wide out on the water as possible, regardless of the vessel they are in. All people are welcome to participate whether they are in a super yacht or a dinghy.

In Samoa the competitors at Mulifanua sailed Hobie catamarans and Lasers. Sailing officials decided to start the ‘sail the world’ participation a little earlier than the first of September due to schedule constraints.

About the South Pacific Games
The South Pacific Games 2007 takes place 25 August-8 September, Samoa will host the 2007 South Pacific Games with racing to take place in the Laser, Laser Radial and Hobie 16.

Day 5 and Sailors battle Challenging Conditions.

The start was delayed due to flukey wind conditions which allowed competitors and volunteers to take in the spectacle of Samoa's inaugural international triathlon which was also held at AquaSamoa, Mulifanua. Just after 11am a north-easterly breeze swept across the course and enabled the sailing to begin.

The first race was the women's laser radials and Carole Dabin, continued her impressive Regatta form by taking first place for New Caledonia. With Dabin's significant, though not insurmountable lead in the competition, attention has turned to the battle for silver with Samoa's Luana Milroy and New Caledonia's Priscillia Poaniewa being separated by a single point with 3 days remaining in the Regatta.

The Hobies then raced twice, back-to-back. Current European Champions, New Caledonia continue their dominance of the competition winning both heats.

Finally were the men's lasers which proved to be a close-fought event. New Caledonia edged out Tahiti in both heats with Samoa's Blake Milroy coming third in his heat.

The athletes have been competing for 5 consecutive days and today's break is both well deserved and greatly needed. Next week promises to be full of excitement with all medals decided and Samoa looking to feature on the podium.

Day 2 - New Caledonia dominates.

The first two events today were the men's Laser races, which were held in light and variable conditions during the morning session. The lunchtime session bought a steady 18 knot north easterly wind and a half metre swell. The men's lasers were again dominated by New Caledonian and Tahitian sailors, with the Samoans close on their sterns.

The Hobie Cats set off in a stunning 16 knot wind with gusts to 20 knots to complete 3 circuits of a windward return course. The New Caledonians continued their dominance of the Regatta, taking out first in both races. The Tahitians continued to sail consistently and are currently placed third and fourth in the Hobie Cats.

Samoa's big chance, Luana Milroy started her day off superbly with a second place in the first race of her day and is currently placed second overall. The women were challenged by a strong north easterly late in the afternoon with many competitors finding it difficult to keep their boats upright. Carole Dabin from New Caledonia, sailed brilliantly, taking out first in both races and is now the overall leader.

Day One - Samoa shares the limelight.

Hobie 16s, which for the uninitiated are two-person catamarans, were the first to compete. Teams can be made up of a combination of women or men with all competing together. The race started wmoothly and the competition was a close battle between two New Caledonia boats. The team skippered by Rudolph Chichemanian ended up triumphing over his country-man, Renaud Christophe's team.

The second race of the day was the women's laser radial class, an individual race, which had onlookers transfixed as the lead changed multiple times before Samoa's Luana Milroys sailed beautifully to beat New Caledonia's Paiscillia Poaniewa to the finish line.

Next came the first heat of the men's lasers, which is also an individual race, that was dominated by Feri Malhieu from New Caledonia. Tahiti's Guillaume Combescure finished second and Peter E. Henry from the Cook Islands finished third with Samoa's Shannon Humrich finishing close behind in fourth position.

Finally, the second heat of the men's lasers started with a flurry of activity. Four boats were over the start line and only three returned to restart the race legally.

Results at: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3565-0-0-0&sID=49596