Briefings - 29 June 2011

In this issue:

• YNZ News  
• High Performance & International
• Junior & Youth Sailing 
• Local Sailing & News
• Admin, Safety & Training   
• What's on
• Contact the Briefings Editor

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Nomination time: Yachting Excellence Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2011 Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards. In 2010 the Award categories and criteria were given a fresh look, so as a reminder here are some key things to consider when making a nomination.

The Yachting New Zealand Regulations Part 2 which relate to the Awards should be read in full when making a nomination. Please download them from the website and take a look through. There you will also find the official nomination form.

Up to ten Performance Awards and up to ten Service Awards will be presented annually and it is very important to consider your nomination carefully and to provide the best supporting information possible. No doubt the Judging Panel will have some tough decisions to make!

A nomination can be made by any Yachting New Zealand affiliated Yacht Club or Class Association or any member thereof.  Nominations will not be accepted without an accompanying digital photograph of the nominee of at least 200KB. On the water, portrait, action or otherwise is fine – but make sure you send us at least one photo.

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.

Find more information on the Award categories and the nomination form here. Nominations close on September 1st 2011. Please contact Beth Orton, Event Manager for 2011 with any questions relating to the Yachting Excellence Awards. reception@yachtingnz.org.nz

2011 Annual General Meeting: Notice of Meeting

The 57th Annual General Meeting of Yachting New Zealand will be held on Saturday 29th October in Auckland.

Dates to note: In accordance with the current Constitutional requirements:

• Notice of any proposed alteration or addition to the Constitution shall be sent to the CEO not later than 90 days before the said meeting. Closing date: 9am, Monday 1st August 2011
• Notice of any alteration or addition to the constitution may be proposed by the Board or any voting member of Yachting New Zealand.
  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 9th September 2011
• Nominations for the Board of Directors are to be received in writing to the CEO by a member yacht club no later than 5pm, Friday 9th September 2011.
  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 (Richard Gladwell and Graeme Robinson) may be re-elected.

 

Committee Selection

The Board Advisory committees (KORC, Olympic, High Performance Classes, Junior Classes, Sailors with Disabilities, Cruising and Powerboat, 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 9am, Monday 1st August 2011 so the Boards selection process can be completed on a timely basis.

Have your say on the use of the Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has prepared a Draft Management Plan for the Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve (ATSFR), which is now up for public consultation before it progresses into effect.

This plan will impact all users of this area. Yacht Clubs have indicated to YNZ that there are some areas of serious concern within this plan including question marks over the continued free access to some areas of the reserve including the estuaries. 

Dennis Win, Patron of Nelson Yacht Club and the representative for boating groups on the ATSFR Forum suggests “the whole ATFSR is a test case by DOC to extend its sphere of influence”.

Dennis considers the areas of concern to include (but not limited to):

• Integrated Management of the reserve by the district council and DOC
• DOC’s stance on boats/yachts as “Visual Pollution” – DOC placed significant restriction on boating activity on the lakes within the Nelson Lakes National Park
• Freedom of access without permit
• Continued access to estuaries and safe havens
• Restrictions for Trailer Yachts that do not have onboard waste retention facilities

Dennis is happy for people to get in touch with him if they need more information on the areas of concern, his email is glenwyn@kinect.co.nz.   
            
We encourage yacht clubs and boat owners who have an interest in this area to find out more here and consider making a submission on the draft plan. Submissions are due on August 8th 2011. 

Sailing…Have a Go! Regional Instructors

Yachting New Zealand is looking to employ three qualified sailing instructors for the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the Sailing…Have a Go!
programme.

The Northern region involves travel through Auckland and Northland.  The Central Region from Wellington to Gisborne and across to New Plymouth. The Southern Region position encompasses the whole of the South Island. This is a contract position commencing mid October 2011 and continuing through until mid April 2012. 

Sailing…Have a Go! is all about giving children the opportunity to experience the thrills and spills of sailing. Therefore a fun and energetic personality along with experience teaching children the basics of sailing is a must!  A willingness to travel away from home and an ability to self manage are prerequisite.

This is a great chance for someone who is looking to broaden their instructing experience and perhaps be looking ahead to a career in Sailing Instruction & Coaching. Please note that only people with a right to reside and work in New Zealand should apply.

More information on the programme is available online at www.sailing.org.nz.

Applications close on 20 July 2011. For a Job Description or further information please contact Gerry Booth gerry@yachtingnz.org.nz or (09) 361 4022

Applications, preferably via email, should be sent to Dianne Logan, dianne@yachtingnz.org.nz Post to PO Box 91209, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142.

Final Selections made for Olympic Test Event NZL Team

Yachting New Zealand recently announced the final selections for the New Zealand Team to compete at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta 2011, otherwise known as the Pre-Olympics or Olympic Test Event, on in early August this year.

Yachting New Zealand’s selectors announced that Jon-Paul Tobin and Natalia Kosinska will represent New Zealand in the Men’s and Women’s RS:X windsurfing events. They join those sailors named in March this year to make up the New Zealand Team to sail at this important event staged just one year from the real deal Olympic Games.

The latest selections follow the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta staged earlier this month in Weymouth where Tobin narrowly missed out on the gold medal in the Men’s windsurfing event. Natalia Kosinska placed 16th in Weymouth in the Women’s Windsurfing where her scorecard included a good number of top ten race finishes including race win.

Entry quota for this event dictates just one entry per nation in each of the ten Olympic events, just as it will be in 2012. The full kiwi sailing team includes...

Laser: Andrew Murdoch
Laser Radial: Sara Winther
Women’s 470: Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie
Men’s 470: Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders
Star: Hamish Pepper and Craig Monk
Finn: Dan Slater
49er: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke
Men’s RS:X: Jon-Paul Tobin
Women’s RS:X: Natalia Kosinska

All New Zealand’s Olympic campaigners have been under the watchful eye of selectors and the kiwi team competing in Weymouth this year have each earned their spot through performance at key regattas, however this doesn’t guarantee them a place on the Olympic Team for 2012. With national qualification in each event not possible before December this year, actual team selection for the Olympic Games will not be determined until the opening months of 2012 at the earliest.

Jez Fanstone, Yachting New Zealand Olympic Director explains what he wants to get out of the Olympic Test Event:  “Because this event simulates the Olympic Games in terms of racing format and the smaller fleet numbers it provides a chance for our sailors, coaches and support crew to have a dress rehearsal,” says Fanstone. “If something crops up that we hadn’t anticipated we’d rather know about it now and then we have the coming year to sort it out.” 

The kiwi team will also include a full contingent of coaching, medical and administration support.

The team leaves New Zealand in July to travel to Weymouth, England to prepare for the regatta. Windsurfing opens the racing schedule on 4th August with final medal races set for 13th August. 

Links:
Regatta website
NZL Sailing Team on Facebook

Race dates for the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team

The NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team is counting down to competition in Zadar, Croatia with the ISAF Youth World Championships now less than two weeks away.

Except for multihull pair Tomer and Ellie, who are currently training in France with coach Shelley Hessen, the team leaves New Zealand this Sunday set to arrive in Zadar on Monday. 

Here are the key dates...

7 – 8 July: Registration, equipment allocation, practice and opening ceremony
9th July: Race Day 1 – 2 races
10th July: Race Day 2 – 3 races
11th July: Race Day 3 – 2 races
12th July: Reserve Day
13th July: Race Day 4 – 2 races
14th July: Race Day 5 – 2 races
15th July: Race Day 6 – 1 race and closing ceremony

Want to find out more?

Find out who is in the team here 
Follow the team as they prepare and compete on Facebook
Or sign-up here for YNZ media releases
Visit the regatta website for event details

2012 Junior 470 World Championships

The 470 Junior World Championships for 2012 are being held at Takapuna Boating Club, Auckland, 26 January till 3 February 2012.

The event is for those that have not attained their 22nd birthday before or on 31 December 2012.  There will be Open competition (men and women also can sail together) and Women’s competition.

The Takapuna Boating Club and the New Zealand 470 Association would like to see as many competitors as possible participating in the regatta.

This is a great opportunity to be a part of an International event and represent your country. So this summer is the time to get started training and racing.

Charter boats will be available – used or new.  To register your interest in a charter boat, contact Dave MacKay at Mackay Boats or Paul Francis. 

Dave Mackay: dave@mackayboats.com
Paul Francis: pauldonfrancis@gmailcom 

This regatta will be followed by 2012 Sail Auckland and the 2012 470 Nationals all in Auckland.

Calling all Women’s Match Racers

Yachting New Zealand is keen to encourage more women into match racing in order to grow the pool of sailors who have the potential to represent New Zealand in this discipline at the ISAF World Cup of Sailing, and ultimately at the 2012 Olympic Games.
 
Two domestic match race regattas on the 2011 calendar provide an opportunity for women crews to compete and show their potential to selectors. The first was the Musto Cup run by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in February and the second is on in October in Wellington.

From 6th – 9th October Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club will host the NZL Sailing Team Women’s Match Racing Championships.

Those interested in attending and competing can find more information in theYNZ on-line Event Calendar or get in touch with Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.

New Plymouth launches match racing programme

New Plymouth Yacht Club has kicked off a match racing program for the club’s youth sailors having purchased two Elliot 5.9s, and gives thanks to the Southern Trust for their support.

Young sailors will now be able to train and race the boats through the winter and will be better prepared for the Elliot 6 regattas the Club participates in, along with the central region clubs in Wellington.

“With a lot of university students back home at the moment they too will get their chance to have a crack on the boats. We will also be setting up a match racing program for the senior sailors but this will run in the evening during the summer - it’s a bit cold for the old fellows in winter,” says Wayne Holdt, Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer.

“While many clubs are reluctant to own boats, Taranaki Youthsail (a subcommittee of NPYC) have done a wonderful job having purchased six 420s for teams racing as well as the two Elliot 5.9s, this initiative will enable us to keep our young sailors involved for longer in the yacht club.”

SPARC Sport Volunteer Awards – Nominate now

SPARC and its partner network of regional sports trusts are excited to announce the launch of the SPARC Sport Volunteer Awards. This year SPARC are asking for nominations of all sport volunteers. Previously, the awards were for volunteer coaches.

The SPARC Sport Volunteer Awards offer a simple way for Kiwis to recognise not just coaches but all 800,000 volunteers at the heart of New Zealand community sport – referees, administrators, fundraisers, kit-washers, coaches – the lot!

How to nominate… Any member of the public can nominate a sport volunteer at www.sparc.org.nz/volunteers

With each nomination, a thank-you e-card is created which goes directly to the nominee. It will include a personal message from the person who nominated them. Alternatively, hard copy nomination forms are available at regional sports trust offices.

Each regional sports trust will pick winners from the three award categories. They are:

• SPARC Sport Volunteer Award (for sport volunteers 19+ years old – the main award)
• Wattie’s Student Sport Volunteer Award (for sport volunteers 18 or younger)
• Lifetime Achievement Award (for 25+ years service to community sport)

In recognition of the special role of coaches, they will secure at least one award (but not all) in each region.

Nominations close midnight, 23 August 2011, with each regional sports trust choosing and announcing winners at events after that.

Pigeon Bay to celebrate 50 years

Over Waitangi weekend 2012 (3rd-6th February) Pigeon Bay Boating Club will hold 50th year celebrations at Pigeon Bay.

Don’t miss a fun filled weekend of sailing and social events.  See the Club website for details. www.pigeonbayboatingclub.org.nz 

Register your interest today at pbbc50th@gmail.com

470 Class Reunion Dinner

The New Zealand 470 Class Association is hosting a reunion dinner at Takapuna Boating Club on 13th August 2011 and invites those involved in the class – both past and present – to join in.

“This dinner is to celebrate the inclusion of the 470 class in the 2016 Olympics and the 2012 Junior 470 Worlds being held here in New Zealand,” explains Jan Shearer from the Class Association. “And also a chance for all sailors to meet up and to generally promote the event and help locate 470 boats and potential crews for the regatta.”

For more information about the 470 Reunion Dinner see www.takapunaboating.org.nz Tickets will be available through the Yacht Club.

New Zealand OK Tour 2011-2012

By Bob Smith

The New Zealand OK Dinghy Association has announced the 2011-2012 schedule for the world’s premiere OK class circuit, the NZOK Tour. 

Image © OceanPhotography

This season the Tour will take in six regattas around New Zealand with each sailor’s best four results to count towards overall Tour championship points.  The Tour regattas will be as follows:

2011
Rum Bucket - Auckland (Wakatere Boating Club) , 22 - 23 October
Turangi International Ope - Turangi (Turangi Yacht Club) , 19 - 20 November
Big Wave Classic - New Plymouth (New Plymouth Yacht Club), 3 - 4 December

2012
Hurricane Classic - Wellington (Worser Bay Boating Club), 28 - 29 January
East Coast OK Champs - Napier (Napier Sailing Club), 11 - 12 February
New Zealand National Champs - Lyttelton (Naval Point Yacht Club),  8 - 11 March

One of the changes to this year’s NZOK Tour is that the contests will be more evenly spread over a longer period than in previous years, so that there will be one event per month for the duration of the Tour.  This will enable competitors to attend more events and maintain an even rate of progress towards the international events following the Tour’s conclusion. 

Following the 2011-2012 Tour, the 2012 OK Interdominions will be held in April at Takapuna, Auckland and the 2012 OK Dinghy Worlds will be held in Denmark during July.  The NZOK Tour offers the best possible preparation for those contests. 

With 46 sailors contesting the 2010-2011 series, the upcoming NZOK Tour promises to be more competitive than ever. 

For more information and NZOKDA contact details, see www.okdinghy.co.nz 

National Event Application Forms

Yachting New Zealand Instructors

Windsurfing Instructor Courses

Filling Fast: Race Management Courses

The Adastra Foundation Scholarship

• A leading sportsperson in your discipline?
• Winning national titles in categories well above your age group?
• Already showing potential to be a future World Champion?
• Committed to your chosen sport with clear long term goals?
• Considered an athlete of high potential by your national body?

The closing date is 5th August 2011, to find out more and download an application form visit www.adastra.org.nz

Yachting Position in Australia: Sailing Development Manager

This is a rare opportunity to join the life of one of Australia's most successful sailing clubs. This role is located in Sorrento, on Victorias famed Mornington Peninsula. The Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club combines a commitment to sailing, with a dedication to fostering sailing families and contributing to the life of its local community.

Headlined by the classic timber Couta boats, the Club's sailing curriculum extends through a range of classes with an active youth sailing program. With a contemporary on-beach Clubhouse and a purpose built Training Centre facility; the Club sets a unique standard in the provision of sailing, training and program amenities for the benefit of members, their families and guests.

Reporting to the General Manager and Training Centre Committee, the Sailing Development Manager is accountable for developing, managing and delivering a program of on the water courses for the OTB lean to sail, junior and advanced sail training programs.  The emphasis will be in further developing the SSCBC as a centre of excellence for youth sailing in international classes.  Your efforts will be supported by the Club’s well established facilities and administration resources. 

The role will suit a person who has an extensive background in competitive sailing and who has gone on to qualify as a sailing instructor and coach.  A Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is Mandatory, as is YA Instructor (NCAS Level 1) certification Experience as a Club Coach (NCAS Level 2) would be highly regarded.  There is scope to structure the program to the background and availability of a high quality candidate.

Applications close on 29th July 2011 and should be sent to Richard Cudlipp at rcudlipp@manam.com.au  For more information Richard can be contacted on +61 3 9866 2261.