Optimistic outlook for Rotorua yacht race

Anna Laing is bracing herself for her first big fleet race this weekend, but mindful to keep the hustle and bustle of competition in perspective.

"I'm going out to have fun and try my best," said the vivacious 10-year-old on the eve of the Rotorua-hosted North Island Optimist Championships.

"It's my first really big race so I guess I will try not to bump into anyone."

Laing will fly the flag for the Rotorua Yacht Club during the two day event, which begins on Lake Rotorua tomorrow morning.

Competing in the Green Fleet, the Westbrook Primary School student is hoping her new fiber-glass boat 'Bring back the biff' will help her complete the trapezoid style course in swift time.

"It's way faster and lighter [than my last boat], which is really cool," said Laing, who was introduced to sailing two years ago by her older brothers James and David.

Laing, who divides her spare time between sailing, water polo, rock-climbing, tennis, swimming and soccer, will join a total fleet of almost 200 sailors the majority of whom are from Auckland.

Skippers aged between eight and 15 years who have limited race experience will contest the Green Fleet while the more experienced will race in the open class including New Zealand representatives Carl Evans, Paul Snow-Hansen, Luke Deegan, Jason Saunders and Daniel Willcox, who competed at this year's World Optimist Championships in Europe.

Steve Butler, Commodore of the Rotorua Yacht Club, was thrilled with the numbers for this weekend's event which are on par with 2003s championships that attracted a record fleet of 184 sailors. He attributed this to Rotorua's central location, beautiful scenery and other activities on offer, and was predicting competitive sailing for all involved.

"Competition will be pretty fierce, particularly in the open class, however the less experienced sailors contesting the Green Fleet will also have the unique opportunity to be involved in big fleet racing for children - it will be incredibly exciting and make for spectacular viewing," he said.

While Laing is Rotorua's sole representative, Taupo will be represented by Tyne Stimpson, James Norris, Darren Inglis, Casey Glynn, Harriet Cameron, Kevin Wright and Keith Inglis, and Tauranga by Thomas Saunders, Hamish Thurston, Genevieve Saunders, Luke Stevenson, Annalise Nixon, David Turney, Michael Turney, Carey Lintott, Trent Rippey and Dylan Callingham.

Weather permitting, the North Island Championships will begin tomorrow and feature seven races over two days. Sailors will contest a trapezoid style course on Lake Rotorua that was similar to that used during the Optimist Nationals and the World Championships (Green Fleet will sail a shorter course). In addition a special promotional display featuring fully rigged boats, will be held in the City Focus today to help raise the profile of the Optimist Association, the Rotorua Yacht Club and the event.