| | Briefings - 24 August 2011IN THIS ISSUE:
YNZ NEWSYNZ Active on Advocacy  Yachting New Zealand has been busy representing the interests of boaties, with a number of recent submissions sent to local and central bodies.
We have made a submission to the Tasman District Council on their Draft Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve Management Plan. This plan looks to change the way that the foreshore scenic reserve is managed, which has potential to restrict the activities of boaties in this highly important cruising area.
We submitted on the Department of Labour’s new Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011 that the government is looking to bring in to effect in October.
This regulation looks to impose audit requirements on providers of adventure activity (which includes sailing and windsurfing). The new regulation will effect commercial sailing school operators, clubs that run sailing academies, private coaches and some clubs who run programmes for non-members. Click here for a link to the new regulations.
YNZ also supported local clubs in the Orakei area in Auckland by making a submission to the local area board opposing their proposed plans to force all clubs in the area in to a multi use facility.
Copies of the submissions are up on the YNZ website. For more information contact Andrew at Yachting New Zealand.Awards Nomination Deadline Time is running out to make your nomination for the 2011 Yachting Excellence Awards.
If you know someone, a team, or organisation that you think deserves to be recognised at the Awards night, please complete the official nomination form and send it in together with a digital photo.
Nominations close on Thursday 1st September 2011, following which finalists and awardees will be announced ahead of the 2011 Yachting Excellence Awards Dinner planned for Friday October 28th 2011.
Tickets cost $110 and will be on sale shortly with some exciting spot prizes up for grabs.
Categories include...
• Performance Awards
• Service Awards
• Coach/Official of the Year
• Young Sailor of the Year
• President’s Award
• Yachting New Zealand Cruising Award
Nominees in all categories will be considered by the judging panel for the major prize – the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy for Sailor of the Year, which will be announced and presented on the night.
For more information please see the website.
Sailing…Have a Go! Update From snow, to closed roads, to flooded rivers and then there was the lagoon that got the plug pulled and start draining while we were sailing on it!!
These are just a few of the diverse and unique challenges that pop up along the way for a Sailing…Have a Go! Instructor, as they travel the length and breadth of New Zealand giving children the opportunity to have fun, challenge themselves and overcome fears, experience independence and learn about teamwork and have more fun, with the thrills and spills of sailing!
3356 children did all of that over the summer months of school term 2010/11. 423 more children than last year!
36 Yacht Clubs hosted the programme with most reporting big increases in numbers attending their Learn to sail programmes, sparked by the visit of the Sailing…Have a Go! trailer.
The new season kicks off this year at the start of Term Four on 25th October. We are delighted to have Ryan “Rowdy” Leatham staying with the programme and running the Central region.
Joining the team is Paul Moriarty also from the Naki, having just finished his apprenticeship at Fitzroy Yachts. Paul has great experience as an Instructor and Race Coach and is himself a competitive sailor. He will be running the Northern region.
Craig McCarthy also joins the team, fresh from the UK, where he has been a senior Instructor at a Water Sports Centre. Craig is a competitive Laser and Flying Fifteen Sailor.
The Sailing…Have a Go! trailers are a fantastic resource that are fully utilized around the country during the first and fourth school term each year when the programme is in full swing. But we are keen to develop more ways to use Sailing… Have a Go! during the rest of the year. Especially in helping clubs that are keen to develop their Learn to Sail programmes, which in turn helps to build club membership.
Bookings coming in from schools dictate the route that our trailers follow around the country. If there are schools in your area (Primary and Intermediate) that you think may be interested in participating and your club is keen to host the trailer then please contact the Programmes and Services Co ordinator at Yachting New Zealand to discuss and arrange a visit. Likewise if your club is having an open day or such like and you would like us to come along, get in touch to discuss the possibility.Programmes and Services Coordinator soughtYachting New Zealand is looking to appoint a new Programmes and Services Coordinator.
This is a key role which includes the management of our very successful “Sailing… Have a Go!” programme as well as assisting with National Programmes including Race Officials, Instructor Education, Qualifications, National Events and Learn to Sail resources.
We are looking for someone with strong administrative, management and planning skills that is an effective communicator, has good interpersonal skills, the ability to with a wide network of people and will be a good addition to our team.
Yachting experience is essential. A full position description is available for download from our website. Applications including covering letter and CV can be made to Andrew Clouston,andrew@yachtingnz.org.nz or Yachting New Zealand, Box 91209, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142.
Applications close on the 31st of August 2011. For more information contact Andrew Clouston on (09) 361 4021 or andrew@yachtingnz.org.nz
HIGH PERFORMANCE AND INTERNATIONALScott Leith retains his world title New Zealander Scott Leith has retained his title as Laser Radial Apprentice Masters World Champ in storming fashion on San Francisco Bay last week. Wellingtonian, Edmund Tam placed second in the same division.
The regatta included all seven Laser Masters divisions, with a team of 16 New Zealanders travelling to the US for the event. Five of the kiwi contingent finished within the top ten of their fleet.
In a repeat from 2010 Leith had the title in the big before the final day of racing. This from the official report:-
In the Radial Apprentice Masters, New Zealander Scott Leith planned to go sailing on the final day, even though he didn’t have to. Leith, who travelled here with a 16-strong contingent from NZL, had an impressive 11 points going into the day. 'I put too much into this regatta to leave without sailing the last day, and I’m not that good of a sight-seer,' Leith said.
After a hip replacement in March, Leith has been slowly working to improve his flexibility in order to get to this regatta. He said he still feels the aches from a 30 tack beat up the City Front on his first race of the regatta. But it evidently didn't hold him back. In a tight battle for second and third, Ian Gregory (GBR), Edmund Tam, another Kiwi, and Joe Burcar were all within four points of each other in advance of the final race, ultimately Tam and Gregory finished the week in second and third.
Leith won the title in 2010 sailed at Hayling Island, Great Britain after dominating the ten race series with six wins and nothing outside the top three.
New Zealanders who finished in the top ten...
1st Scott Leith (Radial Apprentice Master)
2nd Edmund Tam (Radial Apprentice Master)
3rd James Quinn (Radial Great Grand Masters)
5th Mark Page (Radial Masters)
7th Pete Thomas (Radial Masters)
Event websiteAlex and Molly take second in US 29erxx Nationals Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech have recently been to Columbia River Gorge in Oregon for the 29erxx USA National Championships where they finished second.
In this report they talk about the class which is attracting those targeting the women’s skiff event for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Check out this short video from the 29er Class taken at the US event and featuring plenty of footage of Alex and Molly in action.
“The 29erXX is one of a few skiffs being considered for selection as the woman’s Skiff for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. If you are gearing up for a skiff campaign for 2016, the 29erXX is the boat to be sailing as it has sailors competing in it around the world.
“We arrived at the venue, Cascade Locks a week early to train with three of the top teams in the states prior to the regatta. Given we had only trained and sailed on our own since April, we were very excited to sail with other XX’s. This “clinic” was quite valuable as we sailed two sessions a day for five days straight and learned heaps during the daily debriefs with our training partners. It is awesome to train with Olympic medalists, World and National Champions.
“The cool thing about the XX is it can handle a rather large weight range. The winners of the regatta Kristen Lane and Charlie McKee weigh in at approx 148kgs. We were the lightest team at the regatta by a fair bit weighing approx 120kgs. We were also the only all girl team competing. The heavier team was faster upwind and we were faster downwind. The cool thing was that at our weight and with a bit more fine tuning we know we can compete with heavier teams in the breeze.
“The team of Kristen Lane sailing with two time Olympic medalist Charlie McKee schooled us most of the week. As Charlie pointed out after day one, he has only sailed at Cascade Locks 30,000 times. They did always seem to be in the right place at the right time. They sailed brilliantly throughout and it was good to race against them and the rest of the fleet.
“Overall, we have made a huge leap forward as a result of this trip. We now have a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses and can now begin the process of improving while training here in NZ. As a result of this trip, we will be better prepared next time we compete internationally.”Weymouth medallists report in... This from NZL Sailing Team 49er sailors, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke...
It was a real buzz to stand on the podium after winning Bronze at the Olympic test event, one year out from London 2012.
We finished in the top six in 11 of our 15 qualifying races, before winning the Medal race to secure Bronze. A very satisfying result, especially since this was our nominated pinnacle event for the year.
It was our first chance to race in the smaller fleet similar to the Olympics – each country can only send one boat and there will only be 18 49ers at the Olympics. We were one of only three crews in our medal race who were not in the 49er medal race at the China Olympics - the fleet is pretty experienced.
We had a couple of really windy days during the regatta -testing our gear, technique, fitness and skills to the max. Four-lap, 30 minute races in breezy conditions meant multiple manoeuvres, exhausting especially for Blair pulling the gennaker up and down.
We were one of only a few boats not to capsize, but still have plenty to work on to improve leading up to our next international regattas in Australia. The Perth ISAF 49er Worlds in December 2011 is our first chance to qualify New Zealand for a place in the 49er class for the 2012 London Olympics.
The plan from now is to take a few weeks off to recuperate and freshen up (our NZ-based 49er will stay in the shed which mightn’t be a bad thing with it being so cold, while our racing 49er has been packed in a container heading for Melbourne).
The time will disappear quickly with debriefs, planning the next stage, maintaining fitness, organising ... shipping containers/support boats/accommodation/flights/cars etc – all absolutely essential to keep us moving forward for a successful medal winning performance at the 2012 Olympics.
A huge thank you to Jez (our YNZ coach), David Slyfield (in charge of our program - keeping us on the straight and narrow) and our parents. To all our supporters – we hugely appreciate your ongoing support.
100 Days until Perth 2011 Perth 2011, the organising committee for the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, yesterday celebrated a significant milestone with just 100 days to go until the biggest international sailing event of the year.
The World Championships will take place from 3-18 December, with 1200 athletes from 80 nations competing for ten World Titles in the fresh breezes off Fremantle in Western Australia. The World Championships are also the key qualifier for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with 75 per cent of places in London being decided in Perth in December.
Perth 2011 Chairman Ian Campbell said that a significant buzz is starting to build around the World Championships.
“Perth and Fremantle provide some of the best conditions for sailing in the world,” Campbell said. “Combine these naturally favourable conditions for the sport with the hospitality and warmth of Fremantle and Western Australia and the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships are poised to be memorable.
“The Worlds Festival programme is shaping up very nicely and North Street Productions are committed to ensuring that there is something for everyone attending the World Championships away from the water as well as on it.
“Perth is set for “grandstand sailing” as the Medal Races for each class will be sailed just metres from the shore on Centre Course, allowing spectators to witness the excitement of the World Championships first hand.
“There’s a great team working very hard at Perth 2011 to ensure that when the world turns to Perth in December, we’ll be ready to provide a wonderful platform for the best young sailors on the planet to realise their World Championships and Olympic Games dreams,” Campbell said.
Running parallel to the sailing competition will be the Worlds Festival, a 16 day cultural programme that will include more than 200 free events. The Worlds Festival will be centred on, but not limited to, the Worlds Village on Esplanade Park in Fremantle, with venues around Perth’s port city hosting theatre, art exhibitions and music performances through the 16 days of the Worlds Festival.
Team Jolly Update... Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie finished strongly at Weymouth and Portland 2011 International Regatta – the Olympic Test Event – with a medal race win and a climb up to a final placing of fourth. In this update they take a look back at their performance...
“The overall result was not what we were looking for, obviously we went to Weymouth looking to win, and after some a) Weird boat things, and b) Rather poor decision making at times, we came away with a 4th, which was a little surprising, considering how badly we sailed at times, we were happy to just make the medal race!
“We went into the regatta feeling good, but had an absolute shocker of a first race, just in the wrong place every leg, and just couldn't seem to catch back up. We followed that one up with a slightly better race number two (which we later found was a black flag - over the line early - so actually even worse), but still didn't feel quite on the pace.”
After ironing out some boat set-up hiccups Team Jolly came back fighting...“By day three we were just determined to actually have the boat set up right, and finally start sailing a little better. There was a good 18-25 knots of wind. We sailed two good races, slowly chipping away at the boats ahead to finish the day with two 3rds - a bit more what we were looking for!”
“Day four was the killer for us, we made a terrible decision on the first leg, to round the first mark in the last four boats, then followed that up with nothing better, to place 17th, which was pretty much the end of our chance of a medal. We did at least bounce back in the second race of the day, with a 4th, but from here on out it was all too little too late.”
“We finally got our act together for the medal race, and sailed a great race, in the top four for the first two laps, then taking the lead on the last upwind leg to sail away with the win, luckily for us the boats in front of us in the overall standings all had bad races, and we jumped up the leader board from 7th to 4th, about as good as we could have hoped for with the way we started off the event.”
“Then it was time to head home, where we are all set for a bit of a break from sailing, and a return to the planning board, to make sure we learn from this regatta, and ensure that we won't be making the same mistakes in the future!”Sara Winther reviews her performance in Weymouth...This from NZL Sailing Team, Laser Radial sailor, Sara Winther... 
Well they say you learn more from your mistakes than you do from winning... And this is how it was for me at the Olympic Test event in Weymouth.
This update has been quite delayed as I have been trying to figure out what lead to the disappointing result. Marko (my coach, Mark Orams) and I have had a good wee while now to reflect on each day of the event and outline some of the issues that had arisen and how this came to be.
There was no one major contributing factor to the result, but a combination of small changes. But one of the glaring issues was how much time was spent in New Zealand training rather than overseas with the international girls.
Marit Bouwmeester of NED won the event convincingly, with Evi Van Acker BEL and Paige Railey USA third and fourth. The current strength of the girls in the fleet is showing with the Olympic silver and bronze medallist further down the fleet.
The next major event on the schedule is the ISAF World Championships in Perth in December. This is an opportunity to right my wrongs from the test event.Four kiwi crews contest the Detroit Cup Four of New Zealand’s hottest young match racing crews have just competed in Detroit, Michigan at the ISAF Grade 2 Detroit Cup hosted by the Bayview Yacht Club and run over four days from August 18th – 21st. Despite three kiwi crews securing a semi-final spot, the title went to an Australian.
With twelve teams competing for the title Laurie Jury and his crew came the closest going down in a close fought five match final against Australian Jordan Reece and his team of Henry Kernot and Harry Thurston.
Aon Racing’s Reuben Corbett, Adrian Short and Tom Bentham finished third overall beaten in the semi’s by Jury and crew, but overcoming Wellington’s Matt Steven and crew for the minor placing. Will Tiller and his FMJ Racing crew finished eighth.
The Detroit Cup is the second stop on the four-stage US GRAND SLAM Series, a series of four consecutive ISAF Grade 2 match race events composed of last week's Chicago Grade 2 Invitational, this week's Detroit Cup, next week's Knickerbocker Cup, and the following week's concluding Oakcliff International. Winner of the series will get an invitation to next year's ISAF Grade 1 Congressional Cup in Long Beach.
Video coverage and on-site commentary from Dobbs Davis, photos from Isao Toyama, complete results and other information can be found at the event website: www.detroitcup.com
JUNIOR & YOUTH SAILINGRegister now for YNZ National Youth Clinics Yachting New Zealand has announced the dates for two National Youth Clinics leading up to Christmas, and welcomes registrations. Strictly for youth classes, these clinics are designed to give sailors in youth classes a head start to their sailing season.
Registration is compulsory, but the entry fee is small – at only $10 per person per camp.
Clinic One: Boat Handling and Speed
18th, 19th & 20th October (Following WinterChamps)
Murrays Bay Sailing Club
10am Briefing – rigged and ready
Clinic Two: Starting, Tactics & Strategy
6th & 7th December (one day after Sir Peter Blake Regatta)
Wakatere Boating Club
10am Briefing – rigged and ready
Both National Youth Clinics follow will run immediately after a major regatta – and in order to attend the Clinic, the sailor must sail the preceding regatta in a youth class (or alternatively discuss this requirement with Ian Neely in advance)
Registration form and more details here.New Zealand’s Taylor Burn wins Splash World ChampsThis report from Taylor’s Dad, Rob Burn following the final day of the 2011 Splash World Championships sailed recently in the Czech Republic...
 Taylor sailed hard and consistently over a wide range of conditions experienced in the eight races of the 12th Splash Class World Championship. His points tally was just 15 including one discard which gave him a 54 point lead on his closest competitor.
Wind was promised today and wind we woke up to. The first race got away at 10.00 am but due to a huge wind shift, the race was frustratingly abandoned, O'Shea was only 100 meters from the finish, Taylor was right behind him with quite a gap back to the fleet.
It took more than an hour for the wind to change, drop, develop again and settle into a nice breeze and the next attempt underway. It was shifty though, and us fathers, sitting on the deck on a little restaurant overlooking the course, continually had kittens as our sailors had great starts and tragic ones, went from the front of the fleet to the back after missing major shifts, or in Taylor's case, falling out of the boat completely while in second place after being hit by a strong gust.
Four races were run back to back, the last started with 30 minutes to spare, there were some very tired sailors who had really sailed in five races taking around an hour per race.
Taylor's job was to sail conservatively today, nothing flash, just get the job done. O'Shea had a point to prove and sailed out of his skin with a 1st and 2nd as well as a couple in the early teens. The last race was a thriller with the Dutch sailor getting a huge lead but Taylor and O'Shea swapping 2nd and 3rd while closing in on the leader at the finish, Our Dutch friend stayed in front but only just, O'Shea lee-bow tacked Taylor right on the finish and slowed him enough to sneak past, a great finale.
Harris had a consistent day, 10th, 11th, 21st and 13th, considering his relative lack of big fleet experience, a very good day. Evangeline struggled to put good races together but hooked into a great left hand shift, 3rd at the top mark, finishing 7th, one of her best of the regatta.
Eight races were better than four, we had our World Championship series and a bonus four races after no wind for two days which could have been longer. The conditions were certainly challenging and the Czech hospitality fantastic.Scholarship sailor wins in CORK Andrew McKenzie, recipient of the 2011 St John’s Rotary CORK Scholarship, has taken out the Laser Radial class at the CORK International Regatta, sailed in Kingston, Canada.
The 16 year old from the Kohimarama Yacht Club in Auckland won five of ten races sailed in the Laser Radial class including four qualifying races followed by six finals races.
McKenzie took the title competing against 150 sailors, mostly from Canada and the USA, finishing the regatta nine points clear of second place. Owen Siese of Bermuda was second, and Devan Dube of Canada was third.
Before travelling to Canada for the regatta Andrew outlined his sailing ambitions and how the experience of this regatta would help: “This scholarship will enable me to gain valuable international experience in the Laser Radial class and provide a vital stepping stone to the Australian and New Zealand National Championships next season, and my campaign to be selected to compete for New Zealand at the 2012 ISAF Youth Worlds,” says Andrew.Opti World Championships to light up Napier for New Years More than 200 of the world’s most talented young sailors will converge on Napier, New Zealand this December and January, for nearly a fortnight of competitive racing and shoreside activities.The occasion is the Optimist World Championships, an event that celebrates the fun and challenging nature of the Optimist sailing dinghy, and seeks out those that have best mastered the art of racing this popular small boat.
“There are at least 130,000 Optimist sailing dinghies in the world, making it one of the most popular classes, and in New Zealand, as elsewhere, the boat has given many high profile Olympians, America’s Cup sailors, and ocean racers, a great start to a great sailing career,” says Opti Worlds Organising Committee Chairman Peter Dawson of the boat that is commonly used for young children to learn to sail in, until they are aged about 15.
Entries have already been received from 39 different nations, including Brazil, Russia, Sweden and India, and the Organising Committee are still hoping up to 50 nations will attend in total.
"Napier will be putting on a great welcome for competitors, their parents and supporters," says Mayor of Napier, Barbara Arnott. "The sailing venue here at Napier Sailing Club is fabulous, from beaches to vineyards and culture, we have much to see and do, especially for those coming from the Northern Hemisphere winter."
New Zealand has a history of proud success at this event: in 2007 Chris Steele won the event outright, and Alex Maloney was the top girl and took third place overall, while New Zealand took the prize for top team.
Female sailor Noppakao Poonpat from Thailand is the current reigning World Champion.
The Opti Worlds programme commences on 20 December with a four day sailing clinic, and an invitation regatta for all internationals and 100 of the top New Zealand Optimist sailors, runs on 28 and 29 December. There will be a welcoming ceremony and registration event, and Championship Races will run from 1 January - 9 January 2012.
For the many families who will be away from home for the holiday season, Christmas Day will be celebrated at Eskdale Reserve, a beautiful Riverpark in the Hawke's Bay.
The 2011 Opti Worlds NZ is supported by New Zealand Major Events, Hawkes Bay Tourism, SPARC, and the City of Napier. Website design has been provided by Catalyst, and other supporters include EuroCity Cars, the Victoria Cruising Club, Vodafone and Air New Zealand.
www.optiworldsnz.orgHarken International Invitation Optimist Regatta Optimist Worlds 2011 organisers are pleased to announce Harken New Zealand are the sponsor for the Harken International Invitation Regatta 28 - 29 December 2011, Napier. The two day regatta is a warm up competition for the Worlds competitors being just days before the first race of the World Championship on the 1st January 2012.
Most of the Optimist Worlds sailors will be in Napier by this time and will be competing to gain valuable time on the water, racing in the same area as the Worlds will be contested.
In addition to the Worlds competitors there will be up to 100 of New Zealand's top and up and coming Optimist sailors. This will give the kiwi kids a great opportunity to sail against the Worlds fastest and most experienced Optimist sailors.
Harken is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality sailboat hardware and accessories. Harken gear which is manufactured in the USA and Italy, has dominated such events as the America's Cup and Olympics for many years. Harken blocks, travelers, furling systems and winches can be found aboard everything from the smallest dinghies to the largest megayachts and cruisers.
Visit Harken NZ online: www.harken.co.nzRegister now for 2011 OptiWorlds NewsThe 2011 Optimist World Champs is coming to Napier, New Zealand at the end of this year – to stay informed and receive media releases you need to sign up for the official news. Here’s how… EmailNathalie@grow.co.nz and she will add you to the list.
More than 200 of the world’s most talented young sailors will converge on Napier, New Zealand this December and January, for nearly a fortnight of competitive racing and shore-side activities.
The occasion is the2011 Optimist World Championships, an event that celebrates the fun and challenging nature of the Optimist sailing dinghy, and seeks out those that have best mastered the art of racing this popular small boat.
Yachting New Zealand supports this event and is asking you to support this event too. Attached is the first media release. If you do not reply to Nathalie, you will no longer receive updates.
Add the 2011 OptiWorlds website to your favourites: optiworldsnz.org.nz
2011 OptiWorlds contacts:
Nathalie van Dort – Media Relations
email: Nathalie@grow.co.nz , tel. +64 6 878 3456 or +64 21 066 9811
Nigel Rippey – Event Director
Email: nigel@optiworldsnz.com, tel. + 64 27 482 8522 or +64 7 579 1450
Peter Dawson - Organising Committee Chairman
Email: peter@optiworldsnz.com, tel. +64 274 438 590All Japan Junior Regatta This year's team of young New Zealand sailors has recently returned from the All Japan Junior Regatta with a 1-2 finish in the Sea Hopper SR class. The regatta was held at Gamagori, near Nagoya, Japan. George Anyon (Auckland) and Layton Hern (Christchurch) competed in the Sea Hopper SR class (similar to Laser Radial) and Daniel Cressey (Napier), Travers Cole (Christchurch), and Ava Mannering (Napier) competed in the Optimist class.
After a practice day of about 15 knots, the regatta turned out to be light winds the whole time. The Kiwis won every race in the Sea Hoppers, with Layton getting the first victory before George settled into a string of wins. George and Layton finished 1-2 overall.
The Optimists also finished strongly with Daniel in 5th place overall, Ava 9th, and Travers 15th.
Coach Naomi Mannering said that she was very pleased with their efforts as they steadily improved their result race by race. It was a tough competition for the Opti sailors as the Japanese thrive in the light wind.
This year's regatta was dedicated to the three junior yacht clubs in NE Japan that lost buildings and boats in the tsunami. The clubs - Miyako, Matsushima, and Iwaki - competed in the regatta using borrowed boats. Stephen Wagstaff (team manager) presented each club with a YNZ burgee and a gesture of best wishes signed by the New Zealand team members.
Stephen Wagstaff, Team Manager
NOR now available for 2012 Starling NI ChampsMaraetai Sailing Club will play host to the 2012 Starling North Island Championships planned for Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
The regatta will take place from Saturday 28th – Monday 30th January and the Notice of Race is now available from the YNZ on-line calendar here.
For more information you can contact: Race Co-ordinator Steve Tennent. Ph: (09) 274 7989 email steve.tennent@xtra.co.nz
LOCAL SAILING NEWSKawau Island YC celebrates 60 Years this November This November the Kawau Island Yacht Club will celebrate 60 years with an Anniversary Regatta set for Friday 11th and Saturday 12th November 2011.
Founded in 1951 and partying in 2011 the Kawau Island Yacht Club invites you to join them in a good old fashioned celebration, welcoming young and old, dinghies, keelboats, rowboats, classics – anybody who loves being on the water.
Friday 11th November: Races from Auckland to Kawau
Saturday 12th November: Races in Kawau Bay and Bon Accord Harbour, Rowing Races and Radio Control Yachts with a prize-giving, BBQ meal, band and dance to follow.
Sunday 13th November: KIYC Annual General Meeting at 11:30am
For details phone (09) 422 8845 or visit www.rnzys.org.nz
Northcote and Birkenhead Yacht Club Under Wraps  If you've been down to the Birkenhead Wharf recently, you can't miss it. A giant shrink-wrapped parcel hiding the NBYC club-rooms. What will emerge when the wrapping is removed? It's not so much a question of how the new facility will look, according to Club Commodore Graham Thow: “The real importance of the makeover is the range of opportunities offered over the next 40-59 years to our community.”
”The Northcote and Birkenhead Yacht Club building will be the centre for a multi organisational Marine Education Facility, offering the most up to date facilities for a range of activities including water safety, boating safety, learn to sail, kayaking and out-rigger canoe programmes for all ages. It will be much more than a yacht club, and will offer a diverse range of activities to people from children to adults.”
”The community will be encouraged to join the club giving them access to the facilities at all times. They can use the showers, the toilets and changing facilities. Users could include ferry commuters cycling or running to the wharf; locals training before or after work for triathlons, paddle boarding, windsurfing, sea kayaking, sailing - all could shower and change at the club before catching the ferry or driving to or from work.
A small secure compound has been provided where kayaks, paddle boards or wind surf-boards can be stored for access by members who train regularly. Graham Thow envisages the use of the facility as a social centre for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, seminars and presentations.
“One of the most remarkable aspects of this project,” says Commodore Thow, “is that club members have raised $1,000,000 at a time when access to funding is difficult.”
For more information, go to : www.nbyc.org.nz
Elements WatersportsTauranga based Commercial Maritime Member of Yachting New Zealand, Elements Watersports is looking forward to another great summer season of sailing and windsurfing and they hope you are too.
Elements Watersports’ Director Peter Head is a Yachting New Zealand course facilitator and is available to run dinghy, keelboat and powerboat Instructor courses for your staff and volunteers who may require up skilling. Elements Watersports offer a wide range of training sessions from short tasters through to full 'learn it all' courses.
Calling All Instructors! Elements Watersports have a need for more sailing and windsurfing instructors at our bases in Tauranga, Auckland's North shore and Auckland's west coast.
Full training is available for the right people. Call Peter on 0275 369807 for more details.
If you are passionate about watersports and keen to get more people involved then call Pete on 0800 486 729 or email peter@elementsonline.co.nz.
And to find out more check out www.elementsonline.co.nz or visit our Facebook page Elements Watersports
OF INTERESTSail Noumea 2012Over 50 New Zealand boats have registered an interest with Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Sail Noumea 2012.
Sail Noumea is an offshore yachting event to be run in conjunction with the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and Cercle Nautique Caledonien. The three clubs agreeing to collaborate in the conduct of ocean races and passage cruise rallies from Auckland and Queensland to Noumea, with a post event cruise rally.
Races will start from Auckland on Saturday 2nd June 2012 and from Brisbane on Sunday 3rd June 2012.
People intending to join Sail Noumea 2012, those just considering it, and those simply with an interest in the South Pacific Islands and offshore sailing are invited to attend the first seminar of the Sail Noumea 2012 seminar series.
Sponsored by Nouvelle Caledonie Pacific Heart “Living the Dream of Blue Water Sailing – What you need to know” will be held on Thursday the 25th of August at Royal Akarana Yacht Club from 1900 hours.
The bar will be open from 1800 hours and a selection of finger food will be served. Entry is free of charge. This is a valuable opportunity to meet other sailors who intend to compete in Sail Noumea 2012, learn about New Caledonia, and get an overview from a very experienced professional offshore skipper of the things you need to consider when sailing offshore.
New Caledonia Tourism will give a multimedia presentation showcasing the best on offer in the French tropical paradise so sailors and visitors to the island can plan the perfect pacific island family holiday after the race.
In addition Chris Brodie will present on “the things you need to consider for offshore sailing”.
Chris is a professional yacht delivery Captain with 200,000 miles experience covering all oceans of the world. He is currently preparing his offshore cruising yacht for another ocean adventure and has extensive knowledge of the Pacific, Indonesia, Indian Ocean and the east Coast USA/Caribbean.
John Muir, offshore education and race advisor of Royal Akarana Yacht Club said “Cris has the perfect mix of experience and professional qualifications to explain the adventure of offshore sailing and communicate the practical considerations for sailors wishing to join Sail Noumea 2012.”
More information about this Seminar and Sail Noumea 2012 can find it atwww.sailnoumea.com.
The website is the source of all the latest information and news about the race and includes: A timer counting down the time to the start of the race, boat and crew profiles of current entries, live race tracking when the race is underway, Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, an online entry form, and all the forms required for a paper entry.
Anyone who wishes to attend the seminar or to register their interest in the race can do so by e-mailing Kevin@rayc.org.nz with boat name, e-mail, and phone contact details. Kiwi solo sailor smashes around Australia record Kiwi solo sailor Bruce Arms, in his 14 metre catamaran Big Wave Rider, finished his record attempt on the 18th August 2011 at 9:41:06 am AEST setting a new round Australia record.
Bruce, renowned sailor and two-time winner of the Solo Trans-Tasman yacht race, completed his solo, non-stop, and un-assisted sail around Australia in 38 days 21 hours 40 minutes and 42 seconds, making Bruce the fastest solo sailor around Australia and the first to do so in a Multihull (Catamaran).
Bruce reflects in his blog on completing the trip on August 18th: - “It was big relief and a huge weight off my shoulders to finally cross that finish line, as I didn’t have to be on edge anymore and be constantly ready for anything. It was great to see all the boats out there to welcome me in. Just after I crossed the line a boat came over with my wife Suzanne and Jessica Watson it was great to get big hugs and kisses from them as I had been waiting a long time for that.”
The existing Performance Certificate held by Ian Thomson/SOS Ocean Racing of 42 days 5 hours 33 minutes and 55 seconds was broken by 3 days 7 hours 53 minutes and 13 seconds.
The World Record will subject to official ratification by World Speed Sailing Record Council (WSSRC).
YNZ on-line Event CalendarThe domestic sailing calendar is quiet right now, but plenty of you are planning ahead for the coming season, so don’t forget to submit your events to the YNZ on-line calendar.
Inclusion in the YNZ on-line calendar means your event displays in the YNZ Upcoming Events homepage listings, and also in the ‘What’s on’ section of Briefings newsletter – going directly to over 6500 recipients every two weeks.
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