Fiji '06

South Pacific Championships Fiji Aug '06

We left the bleak, grey skies of a New Zealand winter bound for sun, heat, warm water, palm trees, great sailing – as you do after 3 months of unremitting rain, wind and general chilliness and even iciness for our Christchurch companions.

Getting There

After the usual flying bus trip north, we arrived to (some) more of the same. The skies weren’t bleak but they were grey, and throwing drizzle at us. However it was warm, there were lots of palm trees and the water looked great!

The bus trip from Nandi to Pacific Harbour was enlivened by those at the back of the bus (well who else?) who made good use of ‘slightly used’ cans and bottles of soft drink to sample their duty free liquid refreshments. In deference to the young (and rather older) people on the bus, they remained civilised, if a little rowdy. I now know why Harry always sits up front beside the driver.

Successful Boat Packing

The container load of creatively packaged boats from New Zealand (ask Andrew Springford) had arrived safely, also Andrew’s camping and fishing gear, although Fish had a little bit of trouble explaining to Fiji customs what a chilly bin and gas cooker had to do with Hobie cats.

The Friday before racing started was a little bit of heaven for the boys, who are never happier than with a screwdriver, drill or tape measure in hand messing about with the boats – I believe it comes under the general description of ‘tuning’?

The Sailing

Fiji lived up to the requirement of every venue chosen for a regatta and was in the middle of a weather pattern that was most unusual for the time of year – when have you gone to a regatta and found perfect, exactly expected conditions?
Day 1
That said, the first day of racing sorted the men from the boys, so to speak, 20 knots, with the odd 30 knotter across the waves, which weren’t excessive, sailing inside the reef saw to that. There was the little matter the two reef peaks smack in the middle of the course that had to be negotiated. (Remember the '86 Fiji worlds? – they are still there, one of them still with the crooked iron rod marking it.)
Day 2
Racing on day two was, you guessed it, two sides of the coin, the morning fleets had fresh, steady breezes, the afternoon fleet drifted a bit – more sorting out of the skippers.
Day 3

Day 3 dawned perfect so the morning fleet had a great time, later the breeze freshened, back to 25 knots. In fact Day 3 of racing was the best day all round, just what one expects of a tropical island, sunburn was beginning to appear on certain faces, backs and legs.
Day 4
Day 4, and the finals, well back to abnormal really but the race officer managed to get enough races sailed for a result so everyone was happy.
And the winner? Melbourne’s Aaron Worrall, son of one of the grandfathers of Hobie sailing. Our own Harry Handley was pipped at the post in the masters by Kerli Corlett from Sydney.

Kiwis Come Good

Most exciting race of the whole series? Garth Stewart’s son Robert and daughter Katy blitzing the fleet on day 3. Garth was more than happy to take the credit for training Robert – “That’s my boy!” And don't forget the last race where Kiwi Boats took out the first five places.

Thanks Fish!

A good week was capped superbly by a day on Fish’s motor launch, Aristocat, out on the reef for snorkelling and a delicious lunch of tuna sashimi and stuffed roti.

Thanks Fish, your generosity and hospitality make a significant contribution to the event. Thanks also to Shane and Torika whose back room work administering makes the event run smoothly.

prizegiving