Editorial: Our honour to host the Optiworlds

Hawke's Bay has to take its hat off to the far-sighted organisers and sponsors of the Optiworlds, which have just concluded off the coast of Napier.

This was the first time the Optiworlds has sailed in New Zealand and it was a spectacular success, attracting 210 young sailors plus families, support crew and volunteers from around the world. All up, 48 countries competed.

The regatta was not without risk for the organisers. The Optiworlds came to Napier at a cost of $1 million, a fee personally underwritten by the event organisers.

Organising committee chairman Peter Dawson confided to Hawke's Bay Today that there was no association to cover the cost of any deficit from the Optiworlds. "We are the underwriters, just seven individuals who wanted to bring the Optiworlds here."

That's a very brave move by a group motivated to see young sailors from around the world competing right here in the Bay.

And what a success the regatta was, turning Napier into a centre of international sailing over the New Year holiday period.

It was possible to stroll along the Ahuriri waterfront, take a picnic or buy lunch at one of the many cafes and bars, and watch the action on the water. I did that one gloriously sunny day and it felt for all the world like we were somewhere in Europe for the afternoon. The feeling was enhanced by the myriad of foreign accents from people milling around and colourful shirts denoting their wearers' membership of overseas yacht clubs and national teams.

Many businesses in the Ahuriri quarter did well from the Optiworlds, indeed it probably singlehandedly held up what threatened to be an otherwise less than rosy summer holiday trading period.

Gintrap manager Sara Mackey told Hawke's Bay Today, "The Optis are big tables. They're tables of two or more - they're big spenders too."

Our story on page five today also outlines how the The Bluewater Hotel had 44 rooms out of 50 occupied by Optiworlds groups.

On top of all that, it has been the Bay's honour to play host to so many young people from around the world here in the spirit of competition on the water.