Victorian team second at South Pacific Teams Racing Regatta Week

10:59 PM Fri 10 Jul 2009 GMT

'Jess Hooley-Davis & Nikola Dixon - Racing Mode - 2009 South Pacific Teams Racing Regatta Week' Brian Case Click Here to view large photo

2009 South Pacific Youth Teams Racing Regatta Week - Cook Islands, Rarotonga.

The South Pacific Teams Racing Regatta is a competition amongst Colleges in Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands and other Pacific Nations, In 2009 participating teams are from Australia, the South Island, New Zealand, North Island, New Zealand, Aitutaki Cook Islands and Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

A Victorian Team of six junior members set out for the Cook Islands on the 30th June to take part in the above regatta being held between 6th and 10th of July. The Victorian team consisted of three members from Royal Geelong Yacht Club and three from Sandringham Yacht Club. These are Nikola Dixon, James Armstrong, Jessica Case, Issy Say, Anton Sasson and Jessica Hooley-Davis.

Day One of racing saw 84 races being completed with the first half of those being for coaching and practice. Once point scoring commenced, the Victorians were mid fleet and doing a fantastic job having wins over the highly rated local team and last years winners and have certainly turned some heads.

There are 21 boats available for the seven teams and tonight 11 of them have damage, some very serious but will somehow be put back together tonight ready for the next session in the morning. Breezes today were between 6-15 knots.

Day Two was another day in paradise and some more fantastic racing (42 races), especially from the Victorians who have moved into third overall. It's great to watch as all team members have their moments of glory and despair but are able to regroup, discuss the important points then move on. This aspect is so important when there are so many races.

Ross Sutherland who is King over here manages the course, the coaches, the umpires (five of us) and just about everything else on the island. He rules with an iron fist and sometimes doesn't please all but he makes this regatta happen and he has everyone's full respect.

This regatta has no NOR or Sailing Instructions, basic signals and two minute starts and it all happens easily.

Picture Perfect - 2009 South Pacific Teams Racing Regatta Week - Brian Case Click Here to view large photo

Day Three consisted of a woman's skipper's regatta in the morning, which saw 42 races held with women skippering. Victoria being the sacrificial lamb with four girls, kindly donated Jessie Case to the Island's team to skipper a boat for them and she had a ball with the young boys who kept jumping off their boats even during races. In turn, a young local sailor named Aquila sailed with both Issy Say and Jessica Hooley-Davis to make up our team and the girls were quite excited as Aquila is very popular and one of the best sailors here.

The good news is that the Victorian team went on to get second place in this event sailing brilliantly, which I think was a big surprise to all, except us.

The afternoon saw another 21 races in 5-8 knots of wind and 24 degrees. The Vic's again sailed well consolidating their position in the top four and lie equal second. One round to go in the morning and then finals in the afternoon.

Jessica Case & Aitutaki Team Member - women's skipper race - 2009 South Pacific Teams Racing Regatta Week - Brian Case Click Here to view large photo

The results for the Official Girls Regatta (where the girls were skippers) were as follows:

1. New Zealand 1
2. Victoria
3. Rarotonga
4. Aitutaki
5. New Zealnd 2
6. South Australia 1
7. South Australia 2