instructors course.
Aside from this, SCI has
had a busy few years.
Sailing in Schools in
Rarotonga is now in
its fifth year, teaching
80 students from Apii
Te Uki Ou to sail each
year, with the addition
in 2019 of a Women on
Water (WOW) learn to
sail programme.
“It’s like chess on water,” says Craig of the
fast paced event. “And team sailing keeps
kids involved longer.”
The youth sailors make an impact both
on and off the water. “They (other
coaches and managers) asked us, what do
you do with your kids – they’re so happy
out there,” says Anne.
Performing at an international level,
particularly when your home is a small
island in the Pacific, does not come about
easily. This is where SCI comes in.
“To have any kind of presence with sailing
you need to have a national organisation.
Our main aim is to create a feeling of a
family of sailing throughout the Cook
Islands,” says Anne. “We look after clubs
across the Cook Islands, look after our
national representatives. For our youth
sailors you need more competition and
experience and coaches to teach tactics –
you need a specialised support system.”
Phase One of SCI’s Development of
a National Sports Structure (DNSS)
saw them working closely with Chris
Goldacre, Dinghy Chief Instructor for
Sailing Australia. Last year Chris delivered
the Australian Sailing Instructors course
for coaches, and the Tackers learn to sail
programme to young sailors, timing his
visit around Te Maeva Nui celebrations
to enable him to connect with coaches
and sailors from the Northern Group.
Phase Two took Chris to Rarotonga
again and Aitutaki, with a total of 13
coaches gaining certification in the sailing
60 • Escape Magazine
“It’s quite rewarding,”
says Anne, who is one of
the coaches for learn to sail and WOW.
“It’s such a big thrill in seeing kids get it.
Sailing helps them develop independence
and confidence and decision making.”
The Northern Stars programme has
supported development of sailing in
the Northern Group islands, with
Maureen Goodwin “our feet on the
beach” says Anne. Over the past four
years the islands of Manihiki, Penrhyn
and Pukapuka have been equipped with
Optimists thanks to funding provided
by the Cook Islands Social Impact Fund.
Rakahanga is planned for this year.
“Feedback has been that it’s been great for
the community,” says Anne, with the boats
in Penrhyn kept at the school and used
as part of the curriculum. She says sailing
come naturally to many of those from the
North because they spend so much time
on the water, with Olympians Taua and
Helema both originally from Manihiki.
On the water in Muri lagoon there
is another big year of sailing planned
for RSC. The juniors in particular are
thriving, largely
Jolene Bosanquet
thanks to the
(RSC life member
energy of members and Skipper)
such as Vice
and Tamara
Suchodolsky
Commodore,
(life member and
Tom McDonald.
93 years of age)
The 2019 sailing
calendar includes
a series of regattas
throughout the
year, national
championships in Vaka and Optimist
classes, and Electron radio controlled
model yachts, as well as the Sea Change
Super Series, sponsored by Craig’s
business, Sea Change Villas.
“It was an idea I had - to try and
encourage kids to sail in bigger events,”
he says, the regatta open to all classes
of boats to encourage more racing and
increased connection between junior and
senior sailors.
Later in the year young sailors from RSC
will travel to Aitutaki for the annual Boat
Shed Regatta which sees sailors from
RSC and Aitutaki Sailing Club camping
out on Motu E’e for a week of sailing and
bonding.
“We are trying to encourage senior
kids to try some racing in the oceans
in collaboration with SCI,” says Craig,
taking BICS and 420’s outside the reef
to experience ocean conditions under the
guidance of John Batty, Senior Coach
and Property Manager. “The kids who
have learnt to sail on our little pond,
some have gone on to have careers in
the maritime industry and developed
a passion for a sport that will last a
lifetime.”
For the sailors the opportunities are
endless. There is learning how to quietly
celebrate the victory of making a good
decision out on the water and learning to
be resilient when the race doesn’t go quite
as planned.
For Tex the Olympics are his next goal.
And he is aiming high. "I want to bring
back a medal,” he says.