Sailing; an all-weather sport

19 September 2016, 12:00AM

The incessant rain from the tropical downpour on Saturday evening, did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of young sailors at the Apia Yacht Club's Moonlight Sailing Regatta.

While most children would have been well sheltered at home, the eight to 16 year old sailors were donning headlights to sail their way through a gusty 20 knot squall. 

Despite the rain, and non-appearance of the much-anticipated full moon due to heavy cloud cover, the young sailors managed to complete three races for both the Lasers class of boats and the Optimist. 

In the Juniors Optimits Class, it was Triathlete  Durant Websterwho won all three races, followed by tight competition between Sumner Rasmussen,  Trillin Hogarth, and Jada Rossi.

In the Lasers, 15 year old Jay Tasi took out the first two races with Diane Gay in 2nd and Maria Gay in 3rd, until the third race when Maria Gay regained her composure to win it, followed by Diane Gay with Jay Tasi in third place. 

Fifteen year old Miss Diane Gay, recently represented Samoa in Singapore for a World Sailing seminar for Developing countries. 

Also representing Samoa in Singapore was Apia Yacht Club Fleet Captain/ Coach, Ms Raema von Reiche, and N.Z. based Samoan sailor, Kirifi Leilua. Miss Gay was able to share her experience from the World Sailing Youth World Championship seminar with the local sailors. 

Eventually, further night sailing was called off, much to the sailors' disappointment, and the night was rounded off with a dinner at the A.Y.C., followed by an in house movie. 

19 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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