Cook Islands sailors triumph in Pacific Multihull Championship in Tahiti. Edmund Postrzygacz (skipper) and Duke Burgess claimed first place in the Hobie Dragoon class. SUPPLIED/25110302
Cook Islands has claimed top honours at the Pacific Multihull Championship 2025 in Tahiti, with young sailors Edmund Postrzygacz (skipper) and Duke Burgess crowned Hobie Dragoon champions after a thrilling final race.
The Rarotonga Sailing Club (RSC) duo finished the regatta tied on points with a Tahitian team but secured victory through the comeback system after winning the final race – a nail-biting finish that sealed their place at the top of the leaderboard.
Their coach, Jacobo Miquel, praised the pair’s determination and skill, calling the result a proud moment for Cook Islands sailing.
“I feel proud and happy for the results,” said Miquel. “This is proof that our sailors are moving in the right direction for international racing. They’re ready to take the next step – training with catamarans beyond the reef, which is key to putting the Cook Islands at the top of Pacific sailing.”
Miquel and his crewmate Johnny Hoff also represented the Cook Islands in the Hobie 16 class, finishing sixth overall after holding third place on the first day of competition.
The five-day regatta, held at Matavai Bay, Tahiti, brought together top sailors from across the Pacific, including champions from New Caledonia and Tahiti, and featured legendary French sailor Marc Pajot, an Olympic and America’s Cup competitor.
“The competition was high-level, strong 20-knot winds and 16 races in total,” said Miquel. “All the training our sailors put in has paid off.”
Leading up to the event, the young RSC sailors trained daily after school in Muri Lagoon using an old catamaran – very different from the boats raced in Tahiti.
Despite limited resources and no open-ocean training, their teamwork and perseverance shone through.
“This shows that if you believe in your dreams and never give up, they can come true,” said Miquel. “The kids had great attitudes and motivation, competing for the first time against more experienced sailors who have more resources.”
Miquel thanked the École de Voile d’Arue – Arue Sailing School for their warm hospitality, as well as Philippe Bourlier and Benjamin Prioux who hosted the Cook Islands team on their boat at the Yacht Club du Tahiti.
“Everyone showed us such kindness and were impressed by our performance,” he said.
The championship, organised with the Tahitian Sailing Federation, featured three multihull classes – Hobie Dragoon (under-14), Hobie 16, and Nacra 15 – and was a key preparation event for the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti.
Looking ahead, Miquel said the Cook Islands team will need additional Hobie 16 boats to train in open waters as they prepare for the next major competition.
“We’ll need help, two or three boats will be good so we can train properly for the Pacific Games,” he said.
Next week, the sailing action continues in Muri Lagoon, as eight Tahitian sailors arrive for the Optimist Nationals, to be held from November 12–15.
