New Zealander wins Blind Sailing Regatta

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New Zealander wins Blind Sailing Regatta

Date Released: 6 November 2007
From: Jodie Bakewell-White

New Zealander wins Blind Sailing Regatta

New Zealand blind sailor Paulien Eitjes has won the Homerus Blind Match Racing Championships 2007 sailed in Mondello, Italy.

Eitjes, of Tauranga beat Hurtado Roser of Italy in the semi-finals and went on to overcome Luigi Bertanza of Italy who was, up until the finals, unbeaten in the regatta. It is an impressive win for Eitjes who, while accomplished in fleet racing is a new-comer to match-racing.

The Italian lead for the first two legs of the final but the kiwi slipped through at the top mark when Bertanza’s approach was slightly wide. Eitjes held the lead to take the race and win the regatta.

The Homerus system of beeping buoys gives sailors classified B1 or B2 legally blind the ability to independently sail in an ISAF championships. Competitor’s boats have a sound signal emitting from their bow which allows their opponents to locate them.

In 2006 Eitjes skippered a New Zealand crew to win gold in the B2 Division at the Blind Sailing World Championships.

ENDS

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