the inaugural 2024
south pacific superyacht rendezvous
The Sparkman & Stephen’s designed 34.14m Kawil and 22.77m Oyster Crazy Horse were the pioneering participants of the inaugural South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous.
The superyachts competed in two days of racing out amongst the Mamanuca Islands, joined by guests from across Oceania and further afield.
The event began on August 27th with a welcome party at Waitui Beach Club, which showcased Pacific Island culture, food and dance with guests barefoot in the sand. Welcome speeches were made by Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill, Tahiti Tourisme’s Manoa Rey and Vanuatu Tourism representative Cécile Szemmelveisz.
On August 28th the breeze was building from 12 knots up to 20 knots solid through to the nail-biting finish, with Kawil finishing just 1 minute 58 seconds ahead of Crazy Horse. The day concluded with sundowners at Cardo’s, the local yachtie haunt in Port Denarau Marina.
On August 29th, the breeze never really kicked in with both yachts searching for the elusive wind that they had the day before. However, both teams’ spirits remained high and just 30 minutes before the end of the race the winds returned to help Crazy Horse slip across the finish line between the committee boat and Tivua Island just ahead of Kawil.
After two races, Crazy Horse just beat Kawil by 1 minute 25 seconds to take the trophy. On both days, the race committee – led by the Fiji Yachting Association – managed the racing from on board a traditional Fijian canoe boat known as a Drua. The captain Setareki Ledua remains one of the nation’s last traditional navigators and the sight of this vessel on the racecourse reminded participants that they were truly in the South Pacific.
The races loosely followed the SYRA Corinthian Spirit Class rules in order to keep the atmosphere of the event relaxed and safe with the primary focus on competitive fun.
The end of the event was celebrated with a prizegiving ceremony at Vuda Marina’s tropical Boat Shed Bar. The atmosphere, food and drinks embodied the event’s South Pacific theme.
Captain Setareki’s Drua was docked in front of the Boat Shed Bar for guests to have a closer look at the handiwork and historical design that enabled Polynesians to explore the many islands of the South Seas.
The Superyacht Gathering founder Linda Berry presented the winning team with a Drua-shaped trophy made in Fiji by local craftsman Shane Bower. The trophy was made from offcut copper, welding rod and reused scrap metal. The trophy was a perfect representation of the organisation’s commitment to preserving both the natural environment and the rich culture of the South Pacific.
The Fiji Yachting Association was also presented with a cheque of FJ$1,000.00, a donation taken from each yacht’s entry which will go towards the Association’s youth sailing programme designed to inspire Fiji’s next generation of sailors.
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