Six teams compete in South Pacific Teams regatta in Rarotonga
by Ross Sutherland on 28 Jul 2010
Winter sailing in a tropical lagoon - South Pacific Teams Racing 2010
Cindy Adams-Vining
Nine lucky Kiwi teams sailors from around New Zealand were invited to take part in the South Pacific Teams regatta in Rarotonga during the middle of the winter holidays in July.
Six teams raced in the 18 Sunbursts for the week long regatta and the local favorites from Rarotonga topped the round robin (12 wins). Followed by a South Pacific Team made up of three Kiwi sailors from Taupo -
Taylor Griffin, Finlay Norris and George Dawson who joined the youngest girl skipper from Raro and Toka from the northern Cooks island of Rakahanga to surprise all with 11 wins .
New Zealand who won the girls competition on Wednesday were third and last years winners from Aitutaki with four new sailors this year kept ahead of the Aussies on 8 wins .Victoria who were second in the girls had three wins followed by their South Australian neighbors on 1 win .
This year saw the first ever top six finals where both New Zealand and Victoria won the quarters 2 nil to both SA and Aitutaki before both dispatching a surprised Raro and South Pacific team 2-0 and 2-1 in the semis respectively. After which the kiwis finally won again for the first time in four years.
Congrats to Layton Hern, Chch boys, Holly Hamlin, Westlake Girls. Harriet Cameron, Napier Girls. Pia Schuster, Mahurangi; Christie Osborne, Paraparaumu; and Monique Towers, Hawera.
On a good Finals Day, under pressure, racing was a lot closer than any results showed .
Most of the sailors had ten days on the Rock and between the sailing were hikes across the island and diving the reef and lagoon with turtles, spotted leopard rays and giant morays as well as the usual trips to the Saturday market.
Tired sailors departed the 24 degree lagoon waters with a lot more than just suntans and new friends .
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