Sailing siblings head to world c’ships

SIBLINGS Teariki and Rose Lee Numa head to the World Sailing, Laser World Championships in Melbourne beginning on Sunday and running to the end of the month.
The brother and sister will compete in the Laser Olympic Sailing Class during the championships.
The world championships is also the Oceania Olympic Qualifier and since Australia and New Zealand have already qualified in both the men’s and women’s disciplines, the Numas have a good chance of making the cut if they can stay ahead of other Oceania contenders.
Both sailors will be accompanied by coach and older brother Raymond Numa.
The team leaves for Melbourne today where Teariki will begin his Olympic dream in a 12-race regatta over six days (Feb 9-14). He said Oceania spots on the line and promised to give it his best effort.
Tearika said his main competition would come from Samoan Eroni Leilua, who lives and trains in New Zealand.
Rose Lee’s Oceania Olympic qualifying regatta at the WS World Laser Radial Championships begins a few days after the men’s championships on Feb 21 and she said she was looking forward to competing.
She will be up against Oceania contenders with Fijians Nelle Leenders and Sophia Morgan her biggest challengers.
The pair have been in Australia all summer training in preparation for the Oceania Olympic qualifier.
Rose-Lee said she was focused and determined to do well however, juggling university studies with her passion for sports was a bit tricky. She is currently doing her final year at Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby.
National laser coach Raymond Numa holds a Level-3 technical coaching certificate attained over a four-year period through the World Sailing Emerging Nations Programme.
Although only 28, Raymond Numa, a former international representative, said he retired from representative duties and took up coaching to make room for upcoming sailors.