World Champion blind sailor Paulien Eitjes will be competing in the Starling Class against sighted opposition in the P Class and Starling North Island Championships being raced on Tauranga Harbour this weekend.

Paulien in her Starling.

It's the first time it has happened, and it's only happening because this year's host, the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club is Paulien's home club, says contest organiser Gary Smith.
The Financial Independence P Class and Starling North Islands is a three-day event from October 24-26 with entries from 70 starling boats and 50 P Class.
Entries have been received from Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, Whangarei and Auckland clubs.
Paulien is now aiming for the para Olympics, having set her mark on the world blind sailing
'Because I have to have radio assistance I usually can't take part in regattas out of Tauranga due to the logistics of organising a rescue boat only for me,” says Paulien.
'With the North Islands being in Tauranga I can compete with all the able bodied competition with radio assistance, and Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club have written into their sailing instructions that sight impaired sailors may have outside help.”
Paulien defended her B2 World Blind Sailing title in Rotorua in March and is now aiming at the 2012 para Olympics in London.
She's recently teamed up with Aucklander Tim Dempsey to sail an 18 foot Skud in the para Olympic racing.