Forceracing reports on NZ Optimist Nationals and coaching clinics

by Andrew Brown www.forceracing.com on 5 May 2011
Forceracing's Andrew Brown updates on the NZ Optimist Nationals, coaching at Kohimaramara, J Sails performance and the NZ Youth team.

Hi all,

April has come and gone.

The NZL Optimist Nationals finished on Easter Monday at Wakatere Boating Club with 310 entries over the open and green fleet. The Opti Nationals is a hard event with a one day teams racing event held before the main event, then the main event being scheduled over five days.

The first day was not to be, with no wind and therefore no racing. They fitted in 14 races over the next four days to get the full series.

Forceracing had a busy regatta with hirage of coachboats, coach support to the Japanz sailing team, J sails, and Kohi Yacht Club all on the go.

Kohi Yacht Club had four great coaches there for the open fleet course (Carl Evans, Ashleigh Lamberg, James Turner and myself), and overall the sailors performed to or above expectations. It was a lot of fun being involved with such a great group of sailors, parents and supporters at the Kohi club.

Kohi also got the most sailors from one club, into the NZIODA Travelling Teams with 5 sailors from the yacht club, which is pretty impressive!

The J Sails went awesomely, especially for those that have taken the time to get used to them. J Sails had five in the top five, 11 out of the top 20 at the event, as well as 12 of the 23 sailors who have first pick for the travelling teams; so not bad for the first year for the sails being readily available in New Zealand.

I have also been coaching the 470 junior teams looking at going to the Junior Worlds this year in Holland, as a build up to the 2012 Junior Worlds in January at Takapuna.

We had a three day clinic in April, which was full on and also really rewarding for the sailors. We are continuing with a couple of sessions a week right up until they depart for Europe in July.

The New Zealand Youth Team is also training hard and I am having a small hand in helping the 420 teams prepare which is great; as they have a great team around them being Shelley Hesson and Jim Maloney.
While all the above is happening I still have my feelers out for more sailing or coaching work!

On the sailing side of things the Moth Class is joining in the Pupuke Worlds Regatta (Freshwater Champs) on the 21st and 22nd of May so this will be fun, the new boat should be up and ready to go by then as well!

Cheers and happy sailing!


If you want to know more about Forceracing or to contact Andrew please check out www.forceracing.co.nz