YOUNG sailors from the Pacific gathered in Suva this weekend to take part in the Oceania Optimist Regatta Championship.
Held at the National Sailing Centre in Laucala Bay, the three-day event features 12 competitors from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific nations.
The Optimist regatta championship, which began yesterday and will end tomorrow, is focused on developing junior sailing in the region.
Th event, organised by Fiji Yachting Association, gives young sailors a chance to race, learn and grow in the sport.
Fiji is represented by three clubs from Suva, Savusavu and Vuda.
Meanwhile, the event will continue today at 1pm.
The 12 young sailors from across Oceania are battling it out as Fiji hosts the Oceania Optimist Regatta Championship.
Leading the charge is 25-year-old Viliame Ratulu, who wears many hats, coach, sailor and sailing developer for the Fiji Yachting Association.
“This is where it all started for me,” he said.
“I first sailed these same optimist boats when I was nine.”
The three-day event that began yesterday features competitors from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and others.
Ratulu explained that sailing is a low-point scoring sport, the lower your points, the better.
“After every four races, you drop your worst race. After eight, you drop two. At 12 races, you drop three. The sailor with the lowest total wins,” he explained.
Sailors completed three races on the opening day with many more races scheduled for today and tomorrow.
The event is part of a regional effort to grow junior sailing in the Pacific.
Clubs from Suva, Savusavu and Vuda are representing Fiji and Ratulu said sailing in Fiji is slowly growing despite challenges.
“Our biggest struggle is cost. Just fixing a boat can cost around $2000. Some kids from Savusavu had to transport their boats all the way here.”
The Oceania Optimist regatta is not yet an annual event, but Ratulu hopes it will be.
The Fiji Nationals Sailing Regatta will be held in Savusavu in August, and these kids are expected to partake in the event.
Last year, Ratulu and fellow sailor Sophia Morgan represented Fiji in the men’s and women’s dinghy events at the Paris Olympics in Marseille, a proud moment for the sport in Fiji.
The competition continues today at 1pm and will end on Sunday.
Meanwhile, 2024 Olympian Ratulu is also preparing for the 2025 ILCA 7 Men’s & ILCA 6 Women’s World Championships.
It will be held in Qingdao, China at the QIngdao Olympic Sailing Center.
Ben Hammar competes in the Oceania Optimist Regatta Championship at Suva Point on Friday, April 18, 2025. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
