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Briefings – 12 August 2009
In this issue:
Lead Story
Centreboard Expo Reminder
 Everyone is welcome at the Centreboard Expo set to take place at Yachting New Zealand in Westhaven, Auckland on this Saturday (15th August). Organiser, Yachting New Zealand NZCT Regional Support Officer, Kim Admore hopes for a good turn out, so spread the word – anyone can come along.
Venue:
Westhaven opposite Piers R & S
Adjacent to Yachting New Zealand
When:
Saturday 15th August 10am to 3pm
Spare day: Sunday 16th August
Cancellations via radio on 1ZB
What:
- All Class Associations are invited to come and display their class.
- Any gear or boats that sailors wish to sell can be displayed at the expo.
- Scales will be available to weigh boats.
- Patrol boats present for those who would like to try sailing the boats in the lagoon before buying.
- Representatives from yacht clubs will be around to discuss club memberships.
- Some commercial suppliers will be present
For more information contact:
Kim Admore Yachting New Zealand NZCT RSO
Home phone: (09) 412 7837
Mobile: 021 112 6737
kim@yachtingnz.org.nz
Women’s Match Racing Update
 The Yachting New Zealand Women’s Match Racing programme targeting the 2012 Olympic Games is well underway with the squad of key players being put through their paces in a demanding and exciting training schedule. The Women’s Match-Racing discipline debuts at the next Olympic Games in Weymouth and will be sailed in the New Zealand designed Elliott 6.
Initially including three boats the Women’s Match Racing Olympic Development Squad has reduced down to six sailors making up two boats. The two teams of women are...
- Samantha Osborne, Raynor Smeal and Jenna Hansen
- Stephanie Hazard, Susannah Pyatt and Miranda Powrie
“Some of the girls underestimated the commitment that is required to go to the Olympic Games,” explains Rod Davis who is overseeing the Women’s Match Racing programme. “The good news is we retained our most talented stars and they are 100% committed to the training and program.”
Coaches Laurie Jury and Graeme Sutherland have been running practice sessions in the RNZYS Youth Scheme boats which are similar to the new Olympic boats.
“We will send two teams to the Australian National Championships and to the USA to sail the new Olympic boats,” continues Davis.
The teams depart just six weeks from now with Laurie Jury coaching the women while in the USA, for the Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan, Wisconsin from September 10th-13th. Graeme Sutherland will be coach during the Australian leg of the campaign where the teams sail the Compasscard Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship to be held at the CYCA, Sydney from August 30th – September 3rd.
“The squad has been doing a lot of training and hard work over the last few months,” says Coach Graeme Sutherland, “training against youth scheme sailors and successful graduates.”
“There have been several changes to the teams as sailors have come to terms with the commitments of an Olympic campaign and the teams are now set, preparing and looking forward to the upcoming events,” says Sutherland.
Minoprio tops ISAF Rankings
 24 year old New Zealand match racing skipper, Adam Minoprio is world number one in the latest release of ISAF match race rankings.
After 18 months of campaigning on the World Match circuit, BlackMatch skipper, Minoprio has jumped up two places in the lastest ISAF ranking release to hit the world number one spot for the first time.
A very successful season last year, and some top results this year including winning the opening World Match tour event, have seen Minoprio elevated into the top spot, supported by his regular crew. Following in the footsteps of other famous Kiwi's Dean Barker, Russell Coutts and Chris Dickson who have all held the top spot in their careers, Minoprio and the BlackMatch team are ecstatic to have reached one of our long term goals in such a short time.
Now with a month long break from match racing Minoprio will be doing tactics on the IRC 52 Racer Scarlett Runner for the Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks down under, while Dave Swete will compete in the Fastnet race on the TP52 Lucky, from the USA.
Having reached number one in the World Rankings, the team are now looking forward to the upcoming World Tour Events in Switzerland and Denmark, where they hope to regain some form and hopefully the World Tour lead. Currently they are lying second.
BlackMatch would like to thank their sponsors FedEx Express and Line 7 New Zealand. “It is these two companies that have stuck by us and given us the support we needed to make all of this happen. We would also like to thank the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Emirates Team New Zealand for their fantastic support throughout the years,” says the BlackMatch team.
From BlackMatch Racing (As edited by JBW)
Silver Medal for Pepper and Monk
 Image: FRIED ELLIOTT/www.friedbits.com
Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk won silver at the 2009 Star World Championships recently concluded in Varberg, Sweden. George Szabo and Rick Peters of USA secured the world title.
While disappointed to miss out on the World Championship win, the silver medal performance stands as an outstanding and exciting achievement for Pepper and Monk who have only been paired in the Star class for a few months. Their first ever regatta together was in May this year in Germany.
The sixth and final race of the hard fought series became the kiwis discard race when they finished in 25th place in light winds. Szabo and Peters took 3rd place in the final race which put them seven points clear of Pepper and Monk winning them the 2009 world title.
Lars Schmidt Grael and Ronald Seifert of Brazil came from 10th overall to hit the podium and narrowly take the bronze medal with a win in the final race. They were no threat to Pepper and Monk who were ten points ahead in the final standings.
The Olympic Star class World Championship always attracts a star studded fleet of sailors and 2009 was no exception. This year’s 86 boat fleet included multiple former world and Olympic champions.
For full results and more information see the regatta website.
2009 Star World Championships
Final Top Five Results
1st Szabo/Peters (USA) – 30 points
2nd Pepper/ Monk (NZL) - 37 points
3rd Grael/Seifert (BRA) – 47 points
4th Schlonski/Kleen (GER) – 47 points
5th Campbell/ Liljedahl (USA) – 48 points
Silver Medal for Purdie at OK Worlds
Karl Purdie of the Worser Bay Boating Club was awarded the silver medal at the 2009 OK Dinghy World Championships in Kalmar, Sweden which wrapped up on July 31st. The Wellingtonian was just one point off defending his 2008 World Title.
Fellow kiwi, Greg Wilcox finished the regatta in 5th place. 72 boats were competing.
Purdie led the fleet for much of the regatta, but Thomas Hansson-Mild (SWE) sailing on home waters, was always within close range, threatening the defending champ for the top spot. Overtaking Purdie on the leader board on the penultimate day, but sitting on equal points it was all on for the final day of racing.
Hansson-Mild managed a 2nd and 3rd place in the final two races, while Purdie was 4th and then 2nd, putting him one point adrift of the Swede who claimed victory. This is Hansson-Mild’s first World Championship; after competing in fourteen, his best result was 3rd in 2001.
New Zealand’s Final Results
2nd Karl Purdie
5th Greg Wilcox
57th Julian Bishop
420 Worlds
 Image by Gianni Tommasoni
New Zealand’s latest sailing World Champions are Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbrich-Bacher who have recently won the Women’s 420 World Championship in Italy. New Zealand won silver in the Open 420 World Championship with Francisco Lardies and Finn Drummond finishing in second place behind the new title holders from Greece.
Maloney (17 years old) and Barbarich-Bacher (16 years old) clinched the Women’s title on the final day of racing having started the day lying second overall. A win, a 4th and a 16th in the three races sailed on the final day of the regatta was enough to put them nine points clear of Camilla Marino and Claudia Soricelli from Italy.
Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher have twice represented New Zealand in the 420 class at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships. In both 2008 [29er class] and 2009 [420 class] they finished in 4th place. The pair represents the Murrays Bay Sailing Club on Auckland’s North Shore.
In August 2007 Maloney signalled her talent to the sailing world when she finished 3rd at the Optimist World Championships, a significant achievement in the enormous fleet of young boys and girls that compete in the junior Optimist class. Barbarich-Bacher has the experience of international campaigning in the Olympic 470 class as crew for Shelley Hesson during the last Olympic build up.
They were the only New Zealanders competing in the Women’s division, and they came out on top over 83 other boats.
Watch the next issue of Briefings for Alex and Bianca’s reflections on the regatta.
2009 420 World Championships
New Zealand’s Final Results
Women’s 420 World Championships
1st Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher
Open 420 World Championships
2nd (Gold fleet) Francisco Lardies & Finn Drummond
7th (Gold fleet) Luke Stevenson & Sam Bullock
12th (Gold fleet) James Turner & Marcus Hansen
1st (Silver fleet) Logan Dunning-Beck & Ben Goodwin
16th (Silver fleet) Alexander Munro & Sam Schofield
Frankie and Finn: Silver Medalists tell their story…
 Image: James Munro
Frankie Lardies and Finn Drummond won the silver medal at the Open 420 World Championships sailed recently in Garda, Italy. A narrow three points behind the new world champs, the kiwis were a mile clear of third place with a 27 point margin at the regatta’s conclusion.
Both from Auckland, Frankie represents Glendowie Boating Club, and Finn represents Wakatere Boating Club on the North Shore. Now back in New Zealand Frankie reports on their regatta…
The New Zealand team arrived in Garda on the 21st of July all coming from different places as we all had previous events planned such as training, holidays or the Youth Worlds. We had a week of training on the lake prior to the event when we hoped to familiarize ourselves with the Lake’s breezes. During the week we were able to line up against some other top teams and quickly realized that we were going very fast in the breezy Ora wind, with only the Greek team being able to beat us on a few occasions we raced them. The whole week was classic Lake Garda with hot days allowing the Ora to fill by midday, perfect for the 29er worlds, which were occupying the race area making it hard to familiarize ourselves with the favoured right hand side of the course. Some very early morning trainings were encouraged by the team coaches in case of a southerly wind during our regatta.
The practice race came as a huge surprise to most of us as we had not been expecting such a crowded start line, and aggressive European teams to win the boat end, allowing the right hand side of the course to be fully utilized.
Day 1 came as a classic Lake Garda day with the Ora breeze filling in by early afternoon and qualifying racing starting. We ended the day with a 2, 17 and 5, showing very good boat speed but struggling to get off the start line cleanly and with such a one sided race track we struggled to get ourselves back into race 2 with a disappointing result. On shore we found ourselves lying in 5th place being very surprised and realizing everyone’s struggle on the start line, making consistency a key throughout the regatta.
Day 2 was unusual with the southerly wind not dying out but building to about 16 knots by the end of the day. We were able to get better starts as the beats were not one sided but very shifty in the offshore direction. We had a consistent day finishing 3,9 and 9 to lift us to 4th qualifying, but were not completely satisfied as mistakes were made around the racecourse and our boatspeed was not fully utilized. It was a solid start to the regatta and felt comfortable that we were now happy with our starts and fewer mistakes would give us a good finish at the end of the regatta.
The finals series became a battle between the Greeks and ourselves as we managed to jump well ahead of the rest of the fleet. In the shifty offshore conditions that dominated the 9 races there was no other teams that were able to consistently have the same boat speed and good tactical decisions around the course as us and the Greeks.
The last 2 days of racing had early morning starts at 8:30 and 8am in cold shifty northerlies were we sailed almost the same race every time, starting at the pin and tacking towards a headland on the right hand side of the cliff to leave us in the top five by the top mark and extend from there to have a very consistent regatta. Going into the last day we would be one point off the lead with the next drop and decided to continue sailing the same regatta we had been as the regatta was wide open. In the first race we were second to the top mark but lost places on the second beat to finish 4th. We had a 6th in the next race and had to win the last race to win overall but finished 5th, handing the title to the Greeks.
We had a great time in Garda and learnt heaps about the different wind patterns and starts. Garda is an amazing place and described as a “wind factory” at prize giving and we look forward to returning there in the future. Our speed and equipment was brilliant but we couldn't quite take the gold, the Greek team sailing a brilliant regatta. Thanks to Manel for the Lenam hull, Elena at Toni Tio sails, The Remuera Lions Club and the Wakatere and Glendowie Boating Clubs for their support.
Laser Radial World Championships
Sara Winther finished in twelfth place at the recent Olympic class Women’s Laser Radial World Championships sailed in Karatsu, Japan. A number of other New Zealanders were in Japan for the Radial Worlds competing in the Men’s and Youth fleets. Here’s a wrap up of their final results...
Women
12th Sara Winther
63rd Jessica Barrell
Men (58 boats)
19th Greg Webster
38th Mike Pasco
Youth Women (39 boats)
12th Sara Tootill
Youth Men (95 boats)
10th Josh Porebski
37th George Lane
39th Spencer Loxton
48th Jackson MacFarlane
Visit the regatta website for full results.
Final Results from Laser Europeans
The 2009 Laser European Championships for the Olympic class Laser sailors has just wrapped up in Lanskrona, Sweden.
New Zealand’s Michael Bullot from Auckland’s North Shore came through the standings on the final days to finish in 8th place in the 122-strong fleet. Lying 20th at the conclusion of the qualifying rounds, Bullot stepped up the pace with solid sailing and consistent results during the final three races to improve his position and finish well inside the top ten.
20 year old James Sandall from the Hawkes Bay, who was footing it near the top of the leaderboard concluded the regatta in a creditable 19th place. The young up and comer finished in 5th place at the ISAF Grade One Semaine Olympique Francaise, in France in April.
A total of ten races were sailed over the week of racing with the finals rounds being cut short of the full schedule of racing due to light winds in Sweden. See the regatta website for more information and full results.
2009 Laser European Championship
New Zealand’s Results
8th Michael Bullot
19th James Sandall
33rd Matt Coutts
35th David Weaver
56th Max Andrews
2009 470 Worlds Approach
The Olympic class 470 World Champs – both Men’s and Women’s – start shortly in Denmark.
Amongst New Zealand’s representatives are 2008 Olympian in the Laser Radial, Jo Aleh, now helming the double-handed 470 with Olivia (Polly) Powrie as crew. The duo have double-handed experience and success as a pair having taken the opportunity to sail the 420 World Championships on home waters when staged off Takapuna in 2006. They were crowned Women’s 420 World Champions back then, and are now having a crack at the Olympic double-handed class.
“We are off to Denmark next week for the World Champs which begin on the 23rd of August,” reported Jo and Polly last week. “We have been working hard over the past two months, and have lifted our game a long way from that last trip, so hopefully some of that will show at the worlds.”
“There is still so much more for us to perfect, but I guess that is the problem in trying to go from newbies to real contenders in eight months. I think there is good reason Olympic campaigns usually take at least four years! Here is hoping we have another great trip, and learn a whole lot more, and find even more to work on over the next three years.”
Check out the recent TVNZ One News interview with Jo and Olivia here.
Also in the NZL Sailing Team for the 470 World Championships are seasoned campaigners Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington as well as Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders. Coaching the 470 World Championship team are Nathan Handley and Jez Fanstone.
2009 Laser World Champs Approach
Ten New Zealand sailors are entered to compete in the up-coming 2009 Laser World Champs in Halifax, Canada. The regatta is on between 20th-26th August.
Organisers have recently increased the entry limit for this Championship to 180. Here's a list of the New Zealand sailors entered...
Max Andrews
Michael Bullot
Matt Coutts
Aaron Hume-Merry
Joshua Junior
Andrew Maloney
Blair McLay
Sam Meech
James Sandall
David Weaver
Clifton Webb and Mark Howard are coaching the team, and Jim Maloney (Andrew's Dad) will also be in Canada.
Blair McLay has been eagerly anticipating this Olympic class regatta. “Early Thursday morning I head to the Laser World Champs,” says Blair. “I plan to spend a couple of days training at the venue beforehand and to get through any jet lag.”
“The World Championship is the most important event on the sailing calendar. This year it’s going to be held in Halifax which is in the Nova Scotia Region of Canada. I’ve been looking forward to this event all year and am really excited it’s about to happen.”
“It is a restricted entry event (you must qualify to represent your country.) The schedule is for two races to be held each day from the 20th – 26th.”
NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team – Nomination & Selection News for 2010 Youth Worlds
 The final draft of the nomination and selection guidelines for the 2010 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team will shortly be confirmed by Yachting New Zealand. The selection process once again supports a two regatta nomination process for current equipment, and requires attendance at the Sail Auckland Regatta and the Class National Championships.
With respect to the new open event at the 2010 Volvo ISAF Youth Worlds in Turkey, the 29er has now been included by ISAF as the Open High Performance Dinghy (alongside the International 420). The nomination and selection for the 29er is likely to be (a) participation at the Sail Auckland Regatta in any youth class event, and (b) results of the 29er National Championships.
Youth aged sailors who wish to be selected to the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team should be looking at Sail Auckland and Class National Championships as their pinnacle events in the domestic summer calendar.
Next year’s Youth Worlds event also will see the return of the SL16 as the Multihull Event equipment, as it was in 2008. The guidelines offer an avenue to being nominated via a significant result at the 2010 NZL Hobie 16 Nationals as well as the 420 nomination point-score as it has done in previous years.
The final Guidelines for the Nomination and Selection of the 2010 NZL Yachting New Zealand Youth Team will be announced in Briefings no later than the first week September and will then be available from Yachting New Zealand’s web site.
Zone Development Clinics
Yachting New Zealand are planning a new and improved Zone Development Clinic schedule for the 2009 / 2010 season for Youth and development classes. We see this as a great way to help support regional development and maintain contact with sailors all over the country.
We are currently looking at dates, venues and coaches, many of whom will be our Olympic sailors from Beijing in 2008 and those looking compete in London in 2012. Regional coaches will also have an opportunity to work alongside our coaches to aid their own development.
More details about dates, venues and coaches will be coming soon, we’ll keep you posted. If you have any queries please get in contact with Andrew Clouston on (09) 361 4021 or andrew@yachtingnz.org.nz
Splash Action in Wales
 The New Zealand team features strongly at the top of Splash World Champs on now in Pwllheli, Wales. There are five kiwis lying in the top ten after five races sailed. The regatta concludes on Friday in Wales.
Here are the latest standings for the New Zealand team. The entire fleet totals 112 sailors.
2nd Declan Burn
3rd Michael Cate
4th James Little
6th Josh Edmonds
9th Scott Fyffe
28th Bradley Taylor-Swan
31st Jordan McKenzie-Brown
45th Hamish Powrie
50th Melissa Gibbs
95th Sebastian Masters
Declan’s Dad Rob is in Wales with the team and reports in this morning… “Great day at the office for the Kiwis,” says Rob. “At the front in all almost every race.”
“Conditions were near perfect today, sunny skies and a warm sea breeze developing mid morning. The sailors were racing by lunch time with a short delay allowing for the wind to settle. A good, steady breeze of around 12 knots held all day and three races each Class and Flight run off without out too much fuss and black Flags as the day before. We would have loved to have held a fourth race as racing had finished soon after mid afternoon and the forecast is not so great tomorrow ... seems to be always the way at any regatta.”
“All of our sailors had some great races and the experience and enthusiasm is building.”
Five races have been sailed so far out of the scheduled 13, with three days of competition remaining to decide the title. See the regatta website for new, images and full results.
Optimist Worlds
 The 2009 New Zealand Optimist Team is currently competing in the Optimist World Championships in Niteroi, Brazil. Niteroi offers an enclosed harbour surrounded by cliffs so the team were anticipating tricky conditions.
The wide geographic spread represented in the New Zealand team demonstrates that young sailing talent is being produced nationwide. The kiwi team, coached by Riley Dean, includes…
Taylor Burn – Picton
Naomi Mannering – Napier
Erica Dawson – Murrays Bay
Keith Inglis – Lake Taupo
Jack Collinson – Wakatere
The team racing component of the regatta was staged over the weekend with the individual competition now resuming and concluding on Friday 14th. See the regatta website for the latest information.
Bay of Islands Sailing Week
Bay of Islands Sailing Week organisers have announced an exciting spot prize for 2010 sure to tempt yachties up to the Bay for the already popular regatta. A return trip for TWO – Auckland to Noumea on Air Calin - plus three nights’ accommodation at Le Parc Hotel will be given away.
This Sailing Week offers an outstanding three days of racing in the magnificent setting that is the Bay of Islands. With a choice of nine divisions there is definitely something for everyone, from cruising yachts to hardcore racers. Organisers say, “It’s the perfect place to renew yachting friendships – the camaraderie keeps sailors coming back years after year.”
A new and improved Bay of Island’s Sailing Week website is under construction and promises improved daily coverage of the event.
Central Region Interclub Regatta
Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club is hosting the inaugural Central Region Interclub Regatta on 22nd-23rd August. This new regatta in the Wellington programme will be sailed in MRX yachts.
The eight clubs invited to compete in the first time event are Napier, Taupo, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Worser Bay, and the host club RPNYC. Racing will take place over a short course on a rotational basis using the four MRX boats from the RPNYC Sailing Academy, and will sail with a crew of six.
The idea for the regatta came from some older members of the clubs asking why it is that only the youth sailors have all the fun sailing in these types of events. It is hoped that it will expand to be an annual event, and include most of the clubs in the central region.
AGM Nominations Deadline this Week
The 55th Annual General Meeting of Yachting New Zealand will be held on Saturday 3rd October at 1:30pm in Napier. Venue: Napier Sailing Club, 63 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier.
Dates to note:
- In accordance with the current Constitutional requirements: Notice of any resolution and/or nomination to be proposed at the AGM shall be sent to the CEO not later than 50 days before the said meeting. Closing date: 5pm Friday 14th August 2009
- Nominations for the Board of Directors are to be received in writing to the CEO by a member yacht club. The positions of two Board members will be elected as per Article 14.3, 14.4 &14.5 of the Yachting New Zealand Constitution; the retiring directors (Jim Murdoch and Ralph Roberts) may be re-elected. Closing date: 5pm Friday 14th August 2009
Committee Selection: The Board Advisory committees (KORC, Olympic, High Performance & Youth, Junior Classes, Sailors with Disabilities and Race Management) positions as per the Constitution will be selected by the Board. Recommendations of suitable individuals should be made in writing to the CEO by 5pm on the 14th August 2009 so the Boards selection process can be completed on a timely basis.
Final registrations extended for Commodores Conference
Commodores or Vice Commodores who wish to attend the Yachting New Zealand Commodores Conference in Auckland on Saturday 29 August have until the end of this week to confirm their attendance. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Success: The Vision and the Journey’ and it’s an opportunity for Commodores to meet, discuss ideas, and present ideas that are used by Yachting New Zealand and others in planning and decision making. Travel subsidies are available to those coming from outside Auckland.
Please email zoe@yachtingnz.org.nz to obtain a registration form or phone 09 361 4020.
Nominations are coming in for the 2009 Yachting Excellence Awards
The Yachting Excellence Awards are a great opportunity to recognise not only the best performers in our sport, but also the tireless, hardworking volunteers who make it all possible, the businesses and organisations that contribute, and great feats that have occurred in the last year.
The 2009 Awards will recognise achievements taking place over the past year and include the Sailor of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year as well as Merit, Honour and the President’s Award. Winners will be honoured at a gala dinner to be held in November. Nominations close 1st September.
Download a nomination form on our website – click here
New Programmes and Service Coordinator Appointed
We would like to welcome Gerry Booth to the Yachting New Zealand team as the new Programmes and Services Coordinator. Gerry has a strong background in sailing administration; she has been involved with the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club Sailing Academy almost from its start up both as an instructor as well as academy Manager for four years. Gerry is also a keen sailor herself.
Gerry will continue the excellent work done by Kristine Lederis who is returning home (to Canada) to continue her studies. Gerry will be managing the Sailing… Have a Go! programme, training for Race Officials and Instructors, National Events and qualifications. Gerry is excited about joining the team and we look forward to having her on board.
Affiliation Matters
Yachting New Zealand regrets having to disaffiliate two member Yacht Clubs.
Having no response to attempted communications with both Huntly Boating Club and Wairarapa Yacht Club the Board of Yachting New Zealand has officially confirmed that both Clubs are no longer affiliated to the National Body and the entitlements and benefits that membership offers are suspended. Crucially these Yacht Clubs and their members are now unable use the Racing Rules of Sailing which makes staging racing events or competing at interclub events impossible.
The benefits of affiliation to Yachting New Zealand are many and varied, which illustrates the wide range of services we provide to cater for the wide range of yacht club members around the nation - from the biggest, to the smallest.
Here’s a reminder of the services Yachting New Zealand can offer...
- Education: Providing training for coaches, club instructors, race officers, judges and race management volunteers.
- Regional Support: Providing a network of Regional Support Officers working with clubs and regions nationwide.
- National Programmes: Management and support of national sailing programmes including Learn to Sail, Sailsafe, Sailing… Have a Go! and NCEA.
- Learn to Sail: Maintaining and developing the syllabus for dinghy and keelboat learn to sail programmes ensuring the quality of sail training courses nationwide.
- Technical and Safety Support: Providing technical and safety support for yacht owners via Yachting New Zealand's safety inspectors.
Exemptions to Maritime Laws: Gained exemptions regarding speed restrictions, boat licensing and Safe Ship Management (SSM) to name a few.
- Representation and Environmental Issues: Providing a collective voice and lobbying central legislative bodies to protect members' interests on issues such as marine farming, sewerage discharge from boats, lifejacket legislation and other environmental, resource management and marine safety issues.
- Information for Members: Acting as an information point for members’ enquiries via phone, email, Briefings, Yachting Quarterly, Lifelines Safety Newsletter and a comprehensive website.
- Relationships with Media: Promoting Yachting New Zealand activities and yachting and boating profile to the wider public.
- Trust Funding: Providing a point of reference for most charitable trusts. Many of the trusts now require affiliation to a national body.
- ISAF: Yachting New Zealand provides representation for the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). ISAF governs the rules we race under; only affiliated clubs are allowed to race under these rules.
- High Performance: Managing support and development of high performance sailors and preparation for international competition including the Olympics.
Club Safety Boat Operator Courses
 Thanks to the Auckland Regional Council’s Coastal Enhancement Fund Yachting New Zealand is able to provide Club Safety Operator Driver courses to yacht clubs in the Auckland region at a heavily subsided rate.
We are inviting clubs to host these courses.
Coastguard Boating Education in conjunction with Yachting New Zealand has developed a special course for operators of club rescue and support craft. This course is very relevant and very thorough and aims to increase safety and proficiency of safety boat operators, enabling better safety cover for sailors involved in yacht club activities.
Modules include…
Preparation, Boat checks & Safety Equipment
NZ Law
Launching & retrieving
Boat handling
Mark Laying
Communication
Righting inverted & partially inverted craft
Casualty rescue
Towing
End of day procedures
The course can be run over one day or two evening sessions. No pre-requisites are required to take the course. The cost to attend the course is $20 per person. This fee covers Coastguard Boating Education’s administration fee and the cost of the certificate.
The course requires a minimum of 10 participants with a maximum of 12. If your club is interested in hosting a course please contact Andrew Clouston on 09 361 4021 or andrew@yachtingnz.org.nz. Funding is limited, so first in first served.
These courses are also available outside of Auckland at the full rate.
New National Umpiring Seminar a Success
The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club held the first of the new National Umpiring Seminars facilitated by Wayne Boberg. Twelve participants representing nine different yacht clubs from as far afield as Warkworth and Picton took part in two evenings study and a full weekend practical component in match race umpire training. John Grace, President of the Wellington Yachting Association states that “It created a new benchmark with the YNZ courses - it was certainly informative and challenging”.
This course involved a wide and thorough introduction to the ISAF International Umpire syllabus, with hands on umpiring experience during a RPNYC youth match racing regatta in the Elliott 6’s. Under the supervision of Chief Umpire Roger Wood and Wayne Boberg, both International Umpires themselves, racing was conducted both days although ended early on Sunday due to typical windy Wellington conditions. The sailors were fortunate to have a significant amount of Q & A time with the umpires that afternoon as a result. Thank you to all the participants who contributed to this course.
There will be another National Umpiring seminar in Auckland on Sept 9th & 10th (evenings at RNZYS), Sept 12th & 13th (all day at BBYC). Registrations close on Friday September 4th; please see seminars and training for registration information. Or for more information contact gerry@yachtingnz.org.nz
SPARC Volunteer Coach Awards
 SPARC Volunteer Coach of the Year Awards 2009 is now live. These awards recognise grass roots volunteer coaches in regions throughout New Zealand.
You can make nominations directly to SPARC, and we’d all love to see our yachting volunteers rewarded for the work they put in. So act now and nominate your coach for the SPARC Volunteer Coach of the Year 2009 - You can nominate online until midnight 4 September 2009.
SPARC and Wattie's want to find New Zealand's great volunteer coaches (parents, grandparents, teachers, club and school coaches). Let SPARC know why your volunteer coach deserves a big 'thanks'!
The SPARC Volunteer Coach of the Year 2009 Awards say thanks to top coaches in your region across three categories:
- Student (student coach who attends intermediate or high school)
- General (coaching for a while but not yet a lifetime)
- Lifetime Achievement (coaching for a very long time, 25 years+!)
Winning coaches receive coaching apparel from SPARC and a generous supply of Wattie's products. One winning coach in each region also wins travel, accommodation and entry to SPARC's May 2010 coaching convention, where they will get to mingle with and learn from top regional and national coaches.
You can win great prizes too! Just by making a nomination you're in the draw to win one of 34 $100 Sport vouchers. Click here for more information.
Coaching Position in Tanzania
Young New Zealander Cam McKee reaches the end of his contract as Head Coach at the Dar Es Salaam Yacht Club, Tanzania in mid October and the position is up for grabs as Cam sets sail for Brazil from Croatia.
Here’s what Cam has to say...
“After leaving New Zealand in November 2008 armed with my YNZ coaching certificate I secured the job as Head Coach at the Dar Es Salaam Yacht Club, Tanzania and started at the beginning of May. My contract is finishing on October 15 after which I will be sailing from Croatia to Brazil.”
“With my departure comes the need for a new coach. The Rear Commodore Sail has asked me to spread the word on this upcoming position especially to other New Zealanders.”
- The role is for a minimum of five months with an approximate start date of October 7th 2009
- A small salary is given and expenses paid - flights, cell phone, insurance, visa, accommodation (at the club) and a breakfast allowance
- The coach will be coaching, beginners, intermediates, weekend cat racers and the Tanzanian Opti Team who will be competing in Kilifi, Kenya in July 2010 at the All Africa Opti Champs
- The qualification needed is Club Instructor. First Aid and race coaching is very much an asset
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far living in this very different culture with amazing people. The activities are endless, yachting, snorkelling, windsurfing, surfing and deep sea fishing surrounds the Yacht Club."
Contact for interested applicants can be made with Cam at cam.mckee@gmail.com or Paul Smithson, Rear Commodore "Sail" at p.smithson@bol.co.tz
Obituary: Rob H Green
Yachting New Zealand is sad to report the passing of Rob Green, a YNZ personal member and well known yachting man Rob Green, late last month.
Rob was a yacht club member for more than 65 years belonging to Tamaki Yacht Club, Rotorua Yacht Club, Royal Akarana and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1947. He served on Squadron Committees for many years and was Commodore in 1983 and ‘84. He raced Zeddies, Zephyrs, International 14s and Frostbites from 1942 until ’62, starting into offshore keel-boating in 1965 with his own ¾ tonner.
He moved into Race Management as well – as a Judge and Umpire, acting as one or other in Admirals Cup trials, Steinlager Cup regattas and most other match-racing events held by the RNZYS. At the same time he was involved in a number of dinghy regattas. He was Team Manager for the ’81 and ’85 Admirals Cup teams. He qualified as a national judge in ’92, a national umpire in ‘90 and an international umpire in ’92. In 2007 Rob Green was presented a Yachting New Zealand Honour Award for his long term service to the sport.
Thoughts and condolences go to his wife and family.
Local…
Centreboard Expo, August 15th
Westhaven, Auckland
Central Region Interclub Regatta, August 22nd – 23rd
RPNYC, Wellington
International…
Optimist World Championships, August 6th – 14th
Niteroi, Brazil
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Splash World Championships, August 8th – 14th
Pwllheli, Wales
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Laser 4.7 World Championships, August 7th – 14th
Helsinki, Finland
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Laser World Championships, August 17th – 26th
Halifax, Canada
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470 World Championships, August 20th – 29th
Copenhagen, Denmark
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RS:X Worlds, August 31st – September 11th
Weymouth, England
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Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, August 21st - 29th
Queensland, Australia
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Compasscard Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship, August 30th – September 3rd
Australia
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Buddy Melges Challenge, September 10th-13th
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
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St Moritz Match Race, World Match Tour, September 1st – 6th
St. Moritz, Switzerland
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