The President's race

Yachting

The President's race A milestone for Fiji yachting

Story by MANOJ KUMAR

The inaugural President’s

Cup Yachting series at Denarau, Fiji, was every thing pundits expected it to be. Crystal-clear waters, warm weather and local hospitality made it the ideal location for a truly interna tional event, which attracted 40 yachts.

Entrants included part of the world fleet rally which left Portugal on January 4, 1997 and concludes at Lisbon in May, 1998 to coincide with the grand opening of Expo ’9B.

Top yachties from all over the world arrived for the racing series off Port Denarau from June 30 to July 1.

“Cagi donu mada ga na soko" (fair wind and pleasant sailing), was part of the president of Fiji, Ratu Mara’s opening address which set alight the first interna tional keelboat regatta held entirely in Fiji, the series was a milestone for Fiji yacht

ing.

It followed the world 18-foot skiff championship held in Suva in 1954, and the 1986 Hobie 16 world championship and the 1994 Windsurfer One Design Worlds held at Pacific Harbour.

The series was the result of the organis ing committee chairman, Dick Smith form ing a committee of Fiji’s leading yachting reps with the backing of the Fiji Visitors Bureau.

“Once we had a few things organised, we went to the president of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, and asked him to lend his name to the event. With his approval, we were on our way,” Smith said.

“As far as we know, the President’s Cup is the first-ever international yachting event in the Southern Hemisphere to have a head of state as its patron.”

Some 150 crew members worked the 40 participating yachts.

The week of ‘real sailing’ and the fun and feasting that followed will long linger in their memories.

Variable predominating east-to-south east tradewinds often played against the yachties, who had to constantly change sails and manoeuvre to maximise wind variations.

Only a week earlier, what used to be the annual Auckland-to-Suva Yacht Race changed course for the first time in its 36-

year history to finish at Denarau.

“Although the hospitality and history of the Suva arrival will be missed, we hope that the attractiveness of Denarau, the scope for friends and family to holiday in the resort area will add a new dimension to the classic,” said Nick Davenport, a repre sentative of race organisers the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

But that was only the beginning.

Tuesday, July 1 and international yacht racing finally became a reality in Fiji with the opening round of races off Port Denarau.

At stake - the President’s Cup, a trophy handcrafted by Alby Stuetzle, a master of fine art pewterfoundry and engravings, and designed by Dick Smith and Robi Wilcock.

The piece of art, which took Stuetzle 800 hours to complete, represents a Fijian drua, or traditional sailing boat, made of brass with copper wire rods and plated with 24-karat gold.

After a slight delay on each of the three race days, caused by erratic wind condi tions, the winners were finally decided.

Kiwi Ron Brittain, of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, overcame a first round defeat at the hands of Onerahi Yacht Club’s Ondine VII to win top honours in Grade A.

“I am absolutely elated. It’s been a great series, great destination and a great lot of people that we raced against,” offered Brittain on the presentation night.

Fellow Kiwi yacht, Caveat, a Chico 40, skippered by Phil Smith of the Westpark Cruising Club, won Grade B.

Fijian yachts, Dove, skippered by John Ross, and Jan Partridge’s Outrageous had their fair share of luck against the seasoned campaigners.

But the best of the locals was Tony Philp Senior, who skippered Hydroflow to a clean sweep in all five Grade C races to share the prestigious Cup with Smith and Brittain.

“It’s really pleasing. I think the local boats that started the President’s Cup for the first time put up a really good show,”

said Philp.

“It was an unusual event for me because I’ve been a long-standing member of the Royal Suva Yacht Club - for about 30 years - and done lots of sailing events in Fiji. But this one has been a really high profile event and we’re really excited about it.”

Hidden Paradise was crewed by David Murphy and Geoff Taylor.

On shore, a real sense of camaraderie prevailed with a heap of fun activities on

non-racing days.

Skippers and crews of the participating yachts spent a fun day cruising to Beachcomber Island, tried a hand at golf and tennis and retreated to cocktail parties

at night.

President of Fiji Ratu Mara (right), who lent his title to the race Pictures by Jai Prasad

Fiji’s tourism industry also benefited from the series.

“This event is being supported by pres tigious yacht clubs from overseas as an indication of how important they see this event,” said Fiji Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister David Pickering.

“In Fiji we now have several marinas and an increasing number of yachts visit ing our country, with over 600 yachts vis iting last year.

“This race will significantly encourage more visitors to our country.”

Next year’s President’s Cup will be timed to coincide with the movements of yachts from Australia and New Zealand to Hawaii for the Kenwood Cup, and the Tradewinds Round the World rally due to visit the Pacific around June 1998.

“With the America’s Cup coming up in New Zealand in 1999, more yachting will be focused on this part of the world,” said Smith.

“We have received tremendous support from our overseas friends and I would not be surprised to see an even bigger race next year.”

Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s Monty Singleton, who will be part of the

America’s Cup organising committee,

brought with him a wealth of experience as the principal race officer of the President’s

Cup. ■

Inherit the wind ... Hydroflow took a clean sweep in all five Grade C races