Across The Cook Strait In An Optimist
Phillippa Wood, a shy yet determined 14 year old from Nelson, successfully crossed the Cook Strait in an Optimist, the smallest boat to have made the crossing. It's been her dream since she started attending regattas in the North Island, plying across the Strait in the ferry.
Setting off from Waikawa in Picton, the 5.8 metre Naiad support boat, loaded with Phillippa's Optimist, gear and the television and support crew, looked incredibly diminutive amidst the yachts and launches. Very small to be sailing across a notoriously fickle stretch of water. A night spent at a bach in the Marlborough Sounds, finalising details and last minute preparations, before an early, dark and chilly start on Sunday, 15th June for Phillippa's adventure.
With headlight on, she slipped Ngulube into the water at 7.00 am, off rugged Perano Head. Light winds, a lumpy sea, with the adrenalin kicking in, and Phillippa was soon feeling seasick and miserable. She struggled on, with the wind picking up and was making good headway, but the current was pushing her off course.
Her anxious mother was on the bridge of a ferry, with the Captain picking her up on radar and plotting her course - her sail just a tiny white speck. The original plan to land at Makara Beach was abandoned, and after several attempts to beat up to Oteranga Bay in strong winds and big seas, she landed on a sandy bit of Waipawa beach after negotiating the rocks thus finishing five and a half hours of sailing, a gutsy performance.
Phillippa has a passion for sailing, and loves the competition and challenges that it gives her. However, her dream became a necessity and she took up the challenge in an effort to raise funds to continue her competitive sailing. With most of the major regattas taking place in the North Island, and needing the experience of racing in large fleets, she has to travel extensively. Coaching opportunities are also limited in Nelson. Having had a bad flower season, with the high New Zealand dollar and the worldwide credit crunch, her parents can no longer afford to support her endeavours.
She would like to thank her major sponsor, Hampidjan NZ ltd (Dynex), and other sponsors; Line 7 ,Ansco Engineering, Harrington Eye Care and Bayleys ( Blenheim), plus the general public, but is still seeking assistance/sponsorship.
Anyone wishing to help can write to her at: 122 Pugh Road, RD1 Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand
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