THE three-day Wai Tui International 2026 regatta wrapped up on a high note at Wailoaloa yesterday, drawing strong international participation and exceeding expectations.
Fiji Outrigger president Loretta St Julian-Ooms, described the event as a major success, highlighting the impressive turnout and competitive spirit throughout the weekend.
“We had 300 competitors and 110 overseas paddlers, 52 teams, and 71 juniors,” she said.
“So, a really good turnout, more than what we really expected. So yeah, great regatta overall.”
Despite a challenging start on Saturday due to a morning squall that damaged tents, organisers quickly regrouped to ensure the program continued smoothly.
“Yesterday (Saturday) we had a bit of a slow start because of the squall that came in early morning which pulled all our tents down. But we erected them quickly and had a full-on day with the sprint races.”
Racing continued into the final day with the completion of the V6 500 events before shifting focus to the V1 marathon races.
“We’ve had quite a big field, I think our biggest race had 47 canoes on the water at one time,” she added.
The event also marked a significant milestone, returning after a 14-year absence and attracting paddlers from across the Pacific and beyond.
“We’ve had 10 countries – Samoa, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna, Nauru and others. It’s been such a good turnout.
“Of course, the islanders make it all the more exciting.”
St Julian-Ooms acknowledged the vital support of sponsors, noting that the success of the regatta would not have been possible without them.
“We couldn’t do it without our sponsors, but it’s been a great weekend and after 14 years it’s good to be back.”
With favourable weather and a vibrant international presence, the 2026 Wai Tui International has set a strong platform for future editions of the iconic paddling event.
