The Camakau Race was held once again in Muanaicake and Muanaira, drawing skilled sailors from across the region.

Adoni Cakacaka of Naividamu, who also won the last race in 2011, claimed first place.

Reflecting on his victory, Cakacaka says he was grateful to compete in familiar waters and was confident navigating the local winds and directions.

Kaveri Tikosaya of Muanaicake who secured second place says that sailing the Camakau is not easy and it is a tradition passed down from their forefathers.

He also acknowledges everyone supporting the Camakau revival, and their goal is to pass this knowledge to future generations so the tradition lives on.

Tui Muanaira, Jimione Turagabeci, welcomed the guests and extended New Year greetings to all present.

Turagabeci expressed his gratitude to the government for allowing its representatives, including officials from the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry of Information, to attend and witness the event.

He also acknowledged those who travelled to participate and show their support, particularly acknowledging the villages of Muanavanua and Nakorolevu.

In his address, Turagabeci paid his respects to the Turaga na Tui Vulaga and acknowledged the presence of the Turaga Vaka and Turaga na Tui Naro, highlighting the importance of traditional leadership in community events.

Turagabeci says that the event was carefully planned, with organiser Laisenia Seru approaching them at the beginning of last year and the proposal was presented at district and Vanua meetings.

He says the Vanuasau approved the plans, allowing the celebrations to take place.

By Pita Toganivalu

04/01/2026

https://www.fijivillage.com/news/camakau-race-strengthens-community-ties-and-honours-traditional-customs-28f582

REGISTRATION OPEN – 2026 Fiji Windsurfer Oceania Championship

• Musket Cove, Malolo Lailai Island, Fiji
• 6 – 9 June 2026

The Tradewinds are calling! Join the regions windsurfers for 4 days of racing, tropical conditions, and world-class competition in one of Fiji’s most iconic sailing locations.

#FijiNationalSportsCommission

#fijiyachtingassociation

#fijiwindsurfing

Oceanbridge Sail Auckland is New Zealand’s premier regatta for Olympic and youth classes and a key benchmark event for the Oceania region.

This year, sailors from 14 nations took part in demanding, high-level racing conditions.

The ILCA fleets our athletes competed in were especially strong, with 13 elite sailors, including current Olympians and a deep field of world-class competitors.

Across 12 races, sailors were challenged by consistently light and shifty winds, where patience, smart strategy and precise boat handling made all the difference.

We are incredibly proud of our Fiji sailors and grateful for the support of coaches, teammates and families who helped make this campaign possible.

Opportunities like this are vital for building confidence, resilience and international experience particularly for our youth athletes as they progress along the high-performance pathway.

Here’s hoping Fiji returns in 2027 with an even bigger team!

Official results and fleet highlights are available via Yachting New Zealand: https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/…/2026-oceanbridge-sail…

Vinaka vakalevu to everyone involved

Photos: Insight Media – Formerly Jacob Fewtrell Media

• Sophia Morgan
• Vili Ratulu
• Savusavu Junior Sailors
• Fiji Association of Sport & National Olympic Committee
• Oceania Sailing Federation

#FijiYachting

#oceanbridgesailauckland

#ilca6#ilca7

#oceaniasailing

#pathwaystoperformance

#TeamFiji

Emilie Wade, 15, is a rising star in Fijian sailing and comes from a family steeped in the sport. Her grandfather, Anthony Colin Philp, is an Olympian who is now President of Oceania Sailing Federation, while Wade is the niece of Tony Philp, who represented Fiji at five Olympics, won 13 individual windsurfing world titles and four overall world crowns.

The apple has not fallen far from the tree and Wade is lining up in the iQFOiL class in Vilamoura, with Philp Jnr ready to offer any words of wisdom from the shore.

“He moved away to France when I was little and this is my first time seeing him for eight years,” Wade said.

“I am too young to have watched him, his events were ages ago! But my parents would talk to me about him and I would hear stories from other people.

“I would just think ‘wow, my uncle is so cool’. Even when we were apart, I kept hearing about him, he is a legend back home.

“All the sailors are like ‘oh yeah, Tony Philp’, and I’m like ‘that’s my uncle’!”

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSNAUeJCNK4

https://www.instagram.com/vilamourasailing/

https://www.sailing.org/2025/12/15/emilie-wade-fijian-rising-star-on-reuniting-with-legendary-uncle-and-her-sailing-ambitions

Fiji Yachting is proud to wish Sophia Morgan (ILCA 6 – Women’s Open), Paul Haynes (ILCA 6 – Youth) and Vili Ratulu (ILCA 7 – Men’s Open) all the very best as they compete at the Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta this weekend.

The Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta is New Zealand’s premier youth and Olympic classes event, regularly attracting a strong international field alongside the country’s leading dinghy, skiff, kitefoil, wingfoil and iQFOiL sailors.

The 2026 regatta will again be hosted by Torbay Sailing Club from Thursday 29 January to Sunday 1 February.

Around 150 sailors from 15 countries will compete across youth classes (420, ILCA 6, 29er, iQFOiL, kitefoil and wingfoil) and Olympic classes (470, ILCA 6 and 7, 49er, 49erFX, iQFOiL, kitefoil and Nacra 17).

All three sailors are racing against strong fleets and gaining invaluable experience. Paul has only recently transitioned to ILCA, making this an exciting milestone in his sailing journey.

Sail fast, stay safe and hope its a fun weekend out there!

Go Fiji!

#FijiYachting

#SailAuckland

#OceanbridgeRegatta

#TeamFiji

#ILCA#Fiji

#fijisailing

Fiji Association of Sport & National Olympic Committee

2026 Calendar of Events

01 – 08 January 2026

2026 ILCA Oceania & Australia Open & Youth Championship

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Hobart, Australia

Find out more

08 – 15 January 2026

2026 Australian Optimist Dinghy Championship

The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Hobart, Australia

Find out more

28 January 2026

Fiji Yachting Association – 2026 AGM

National Sailing Centre, Suva

06 – 08 February 2026

New Zealand Nationals

Auckland, New Zealand

20 – 22 February 2026

2026 Foil Bay of Islands

Northland, New Zealand

Find out more

29 March – 06 April 2026

Princess Sofia Regatta

Palma, Mallorca, Spain

03 – 07 April 2026

2026 Toyota Optimist NZ Nationals

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Find out more

06 – 09 June 2026

Fiji Windsurfing Oceania Championships

Musket Cove Marina

Malolo Lailai Island, Fiji

Find out more

TBC 2026

FYA / Vuda Sailing Club – Sailing Clinic & Outreach

Vuda Marina, Fiji

TBC 2026

FYA / Uto Ni Yalo – Sailing Clinic & Outreach

National Sailing Centre, Suva, Fiji

September 2026

Musket Cove Regatta

Musket Cove Marina, Malolo Lailai Island, Fiji

10 – 12 October 2026

2026 Fiji Nationals

TBC Suva, Fiji

TBC 2026

2026 Youth Sailing World Championships

TBC

12 – 19 December 2026

2026 IODA Asian & Oceanian Championship

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Born into one of Fiji’s most respected sailing families, Wade has shown promise since entering the sport.

At just 14, she made the transition from the Junior Optimist class into windsurfing before stepping into the fast-growing Olympic pathway discipline, iQFoil.

competing at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Portugal, Wade is gaining valuable experience on the international stage.

Her selection comes through World Sailing’s Emerging Nations Programme, which supports young athletes from developing sailing nations.

“It is a really good experience as this is my first international event, as well as my first proper race in iQFOiL.

For Wade, racing in the iQFoil class represents both a personal challenge and a continuation of her family’s sailing tradition.

Her appearance in Portugal marks the first time in decades that a member of the family has carried Fiji’s flag at a world-level sailing event.

After surviving the storms and damage at Minerva Reef, WE make our final push to Fiji – but we are taking no chances. Watch as we sail conservatively with just the jib, extra mast supports rigged, limping our way through moderate conditions that feel like a breeze compared to what we just endured.

There is much relief of sighting land in Fijian coastal waters and we are warmly welcome with the sailor’s welcome from the locals!

Come Meet Us at Annapolis Boat Show! October 9-12, 2024 – We’ll be there sharing sea stories and meeting all of you!

Check out our new merchandise collection – order by September 15th for hand delivery with a hug at the boat show! Get some merch from our new collection: https://www.wesail.world/wesail-swag-…

SUBSCRIBE for our continuing journey: https://www.youtube.com/channel/WESail FOLLOW our day-to-day updates: Instagram:   / wesail   Facebook:   / wesail   Support us on Patreon and join our sailing charters:   / wesail   Want to come Sail with us for the next WE|Sail Patreon Charter in 2025? https://www.wesail.world/upcoming-events

MERCH: https://www.wesail.world/wesail-swag-…#Sailing#TravelVlog#PatreonTrip#BoatLife#disaster#wesail#adventuresofwe

Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to join us on our sailing adventures around the world! ———————————————————————————————————————— A HUGE shoutout to Vetus-Maxwell Marine in New Zealand for the tour and for our new shiny windlass! Check out Vetus-Marine for your boat part needs! https://vetus.com/ ———————————————————————————————————————— Or support us in another way by going to our website and getting yourself some of our WE|Sail Merchandise. https://www.wesail.world/wesail-swag-… ———————————————————————————————————————— Want to come Sail with us for the next WE|Sail Patreon Charter in 2025? https://www.wesail.world/upcoming-events Email us today for more details… wesail.world@gmail.com ————————————————————————————————————————- If you are also interested in booking your very own charter, consider booking with Navigare Yachting. Use the discount code linked below for special discount rates with WE|Sail! Use the below link to book with them today! https://navigare-yachting.com/en/dest… ————————————————————————————————————————- Our Sail Partner @PrecisionSailLoftVictoria – https://www.precisionsailloft.com/abo… Our NEW Highfield Dingy Partner @Highfieldboats ————————————————————————————————————————- Songs Featured in this episode come from @epidemicsound Want Royalty Free Music click on the link below!!! https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra… Want some WE|Sail Merch??? Check out the WE|Sail $WAG $TORE https://www.wesail.world/wesail-swag-… Get 20% OFF ENTIRE Purchase using code: WEYOUTUBER ————————————————————————————————————————- FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/wesailaway INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/we_sailaway

Located on Nawi Island, Korovesa Island

• 741 5162 Mobile

• corp@eatfiji.com

http://Www.EATFiji.com/

Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau says the issue of scattered and unsecured vessels has long posed threats to maritime safety, the environment, and harbour infrastructure.

He adds of the 44 derelict vessels identified, 17 have already been removed, leaving 27 still in the harbour.

Filipe also confirmed plans to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks, including Fiji’s potential accession to the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, which would hold shipowners accountable for wreck removal and mandate insurance coverage.

“This basically provides international rules for the prompt and effective removal of hazardous wrecks and establishes a legal framework for coastal states to deal with wrecks and requires ship owners to be strictly liable for costs for relocating, removing hazards and also ensuring that they have a mandatory insurance scheme.”

Ro Filipe says the Ministry, in coordination with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, the Fiji Navy, and other agencies, is conducting surveillance and compliance checks to ensure vessels are properly moored or relocated.

Shania Shayal Prasad

Multimedia Journalist

sprasad@fbc.com.fj

December 3, 2025 2:50 pm