By Laurel Marewibuel| Island Times | October 15, 2025
KOROR, Palau — The 2025 Palau Cup brought together young sailors and ocean enthusiasts on October 12 for a day of friendly competition and island pride, as the Republic of Palau’s turquoise waters hosted both traditional sailing canoes and ILCA (formerly Laser) class boats.
The event highlighted the growing strength of Palau’s youth sailing community, whose members recently competed in Yokohama, Japan, and continue training toward their ultimate goal — representing Palau at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
For many of the sailors, the Palau Cup was more than a race — it was a celebration of perseverance and connection to the sea.
“I felt lazy at first because there was no wind,” said Zenryu Idip, 13, laughing. “But when it finally picked up, my heart started racing. My favorite part was sailing the traditional canoe with my friends — we are tied to the ocean, and going back to it always feels like home.”
Saku Niro, 14, said the race pushed him to keep going even when conditions were tough. “It made me want to finish strong,” he said. “But the main thing is to have fun. If you’re not enjoying it, you won’t get better.”
Shinryu Idip, 12, described the experience as “very exciting,” saying his favorite memory wasn’t just the race itself, but the teamwork and small victories that came with it. “As long as I enjoy the race, it’s worth it,” he said.
For Kai Umemoto, 11, the light winds and heat made the race challenging. “It was really hot, and I was tired,” he said. “But I didn’t give up because giving up means missing out on the fun.”
Earlier this year, the same young sailors represented the Palau Sailing Association (PSA) in the 38th Yokohama Port Boat Heaven Dinghy Race held July 13 at Minato Mirai’s Rinko Park in Japan. The event brought together junior sailors from across the region to race OP-class boats and celebrate ocean sports.
During their week in Japan, the Palau team trained at the Yokohama Bayside Marina under the guidance of ILCA-class sailor Kaoru Arai from the Enoshima Fleet. The sessions focused on boat handling, balance, and race strategy — skills that the sailors are now applying at home.
Two ILCA boats, donated by Performance Sailcraft Japan, were added to Palau’s growing training fleet as part of a broader youth sailing exchange supported by the Japan-Palau Youth Sailing Club (JPYSC).
Since its launch in 2019, Palau’s youth sailing program has steadily expanded, nurturing a new generation of sailors who blend traditional navigation with modern competition. With continued training and support, these young athletes hope to one day bring Palau’s ocean spirit to the global stage in Brisbane.