Annika Wells has topped a fleet of 70 young sailors to win overall honours at the 2026 Zespri AIMS Games sailing competition at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club.
The Saint Kentigern Girls' School sailor finished ahead of Tauranga Waldorf School's Marcus Daum and Kristin School's Charlie Thirkettle after four days of racing. She also claimed the Year 8 Girls division outright, finishing ahead of Napier Intermediate's Mei Whitehead and Glendowie School's Phoebe Cunningham.
Daum backed up his overall placing with the Year 7 Boys title. Thirkettle took out Year 8 Boys, while Bucklands Beach Intermediate's Dallas Noyer won the Year 7 Girls division.
The regatta once again formed part of the Zespri AIMS Games, New Zealand's largest school sporting event, which draws thousands of intermediate and middle school students from across the country to compete in 28 sporting codes. AIMS stands for the Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools, and the games give young athletes the chance to represent their school on one of the country's biggest sporting stages.
All 70 sailors raced Optimists in an open fleet format under the full Racing Rules of Sailing. Prizes were awarded for the overall champion, individual placings across the Year 7 and Year 8 boys' and girls' divisions, and the top-performing school team.
Bucklands Beach Intermediate claimed that school team title, with Leo Wills and Dallas Noyer combining to finish ahead of Napier Intermediate's Angus Jackson and Mei Whitehead. Kristin School, represented by Charlie and Astrid Thirkettle, rounded out the podium.
