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Young sailors from across New Zealand flew to Rarotonga this month for a Team Sailing Development Week in the tropical Muri Lagoon waters.
The 23 sailors, ranging in age from 13 to 17 hailed from as far north as Whangarei, and as far South as Timaru and Wanaka. Hosted in partnership with the Rarotonga Sailing Club, the week provided a fantastic chance for Kiwi sailors to mix with Cook Island racers and improve their skills on the water.
Over the course of the week the sailors took part in lots of on and off water activities, all revolving around the goal of improving their sailing knowledge and building up some key skills. The aim being to return to their own teams in time for next season with a kick-start into next years' regattas.
The three days of racing concluded with a mini round-robin series between a Cook Islands team, a Nelson-Marlborough girls team and a Whangarei-Wanaka team. This resulted in heaps of tight racing and close finishes. All of the sailors, both NZ and Cook Islands, came away from the week with big smiles and big improvements in their racing.
Sailors were generously accommodated for the week by the Aremango Guest House, and are very grateful for their support as well as all of the efforts put in by the NZ Team Sailing Association.
