| Briefings - 21 March 2007
Contents:
- French Bay Yacht Club
- Disabled Children Have a Go!
- Club Survey Reminder
- GEORGIA ONE wins 2007 IRC National Championships!
- Team Support Staff Wanted
- Dinghy and Keelboat Instructor Courses
- Noise Controls on Marine Farms
- New National Champions
- Sailing Have A GO! Trailer – Storage Required.
- Correction: Preliminary dates for P class and Starling
- Entry Deadline Extended: Steven Dyke HYUNDAI Youth Sail 07
- Teams Racing at Lake Ngaroto
- Important Announcement!
- Sad Passing
French Bay Yacht Club
When things deteriorated to a point where closing the French Bay Yacht Club was considered, existing members and a few new faces took up the challenge and have turned things around.
Some motivation and determination from key people at the Club has seen the membership rise from 15, to around 85 individuals within the last 18 months. Where at one point the Club members were all adults, a snapshot of the current membership reveals around 50% are juniors.
Commodore, Don Waterer and Vice-Commodore, Richard Waterer have been with the Club throughout the turnaround.
“These two guys have kept the Club afloat over the last few years,” says committee member, Brett Heaven. “We wouldn’t have survived without them.”
So how did they do it?
Initially three Club members made a commitment to provide new-comers with lessons, which they then promoted to the local community, enticing them with very affordable membership rates.
Flyers were printed promoting the learn-to-sail offer at French Bay Yacht Club, and were dropped into letterboxes and hand delivered to local primary school principals. New members started to come through the door, and this season has been a bumper for the club stretching their resources to capacity.
Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer, Andrew Clouston has introduced YNZ’s learn-to-sail programme to the key Club members who are now preparing to introduce it at the Club next season. Before that happens, ten keen volunteers at the Club will complete the Yachting New Zealand Club Instructor course enabling them to deliver the programme using YNZ’s logbooks.
Club day is Sunday when the tide is right, with an average of three weekends in each month when social racers and beginners converge on the Club house which is set out over the water on the Manukau Harbour. Great support from parents means that kitchen duties, support boat, and rescue are easily taken care of.
Retention is the key word for the Club’s Committee who are realistic about the fact that some members will move on. “Our goal for 2008 is to keep 30% of our junior members and to retain most of our seniors,” says Brett Heaven. This together with further membership drives should see consistent and achievable growth within the club.
[ French Bay Yacht Club ]
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Disabled Children Have a Go!
12 children with disabilities took to the water last week in Northland thanks to the Halberg Trust, Whangarei Cruising Club and Yachting New Zealand’s Sailing… Have a Go! programme.
“[It] was a great success,” said Halberg Trust Northern Region Manager, Jo O’Callaghan. “The weather was not ideal, but this did not faze any of the participants and I believe they all had a fantastic experience.”
Northern region Sailing… Have a Go! instructor Rob Hielkema was popular with the students and Rob felt that the day was one of the most rewarding he has had as an instructor.
“Rob did a great job of making all the children feel safe and encouraged them to challenge themselves.” said O’Callaghan. “Part of the challenge for the Halberg Trust is to increase the awareness in schools on the ability that their disabled students have – given the opportunity. I will be promoting the programme as the perfect example in highlighting that disabled students and non-disabled students are able to participate in an activity together utilizing the same environments. I will also encourage schools to include their disabled students when they sign up for Sailing…Have a Go and will strongly recommend the programme to groups that have a focus of getting disabled children active.”
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Club Survey Reminder
The Yachting New Zealand Club Survey 2007 is with all affiliated Yacht Clubs for completion right now. The due date is Thursday 5 April – just prior to Easter.
Yachting New Zealand conducts this survey every two years. The information helps Yachting New Zealand to develop trend data and review how the sport is doing on a National level - this information can then be passed on to our clubs.
It is also a measure for the organisation to evaluate the services provided to our members and obtain feedback from you on areas you feel we are doing well in as well as highlighting areas we need to work on in the future.
The survey form can also be downloaded from the YNZ website through the link below…
[ Club Survey Form ]
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GEORGIA ONE wins 2007 IRC National Championships!
A 17 boat fleet completed a total of eight races over three gorgeous days in the Hauraki Gulf, including 1 long Gulf Race, in the inaugural IRC National Championships. On the water it was a fantastic battle between the three division A 50 footers and an even tougher battle between the Division B 40’s!
Jim Farmer and crew onboard Georgia One (Farr 43) took a well deserved overall win leading the regatta from day one and claiming the first ever IRC NZ National Championships title! Farmer reflects on the success of the event and the broad appeal of the IRC rating system.
"The fact that races were won by boats as varied as Farr 10-20's (now over 15 years old) to state of the art 50 foot canting keel boats to traditional fixed keel 40 footers shows that the IRC rating rule has something for everyone in it and should guarantee close and exciting racing for everyone," says Farmer.
"It was a special thrill for me to have successfully turned a boat that Mick Cookson built for me in 1995 as an optimised IMS rated boat and which was the following year the top boat in the Kenwood Cup (and also won the Air New Zealand IMS regattas two years running) into a top IRC boat by modifiying it with a new keel and rig suited to the new rule. That proves that a boat that has a good hull shape can be adapted to new rating rules."
With all boats on the same start line & sailing the same course it was high-tension, fast action fleet racing.
On the start line for Race 7, Hard Labour and Cosmic Cruz collided and Hard Labour was granted redress for the final two races. The redress gave her a nice jump up the overall standing to 3rd overall and 1st overall for Division C.
The other 1020 Resolve who had sailed up from Wellington to compete was awarded the ‘out of town’ prize of $1000 gifted by KORC.
Final results
Overall
1- Georgia One - Jim Farmer - Farr 43
2 - Power Play - Ian McBurney - Cookson 12
3 - Hard Labour - Cameron Thorpe - Farr 1020
Division A
1- Pussy Galore - Anatole Masfen - Cookson 50
2 - Wingz - Mick Cookson - Cookson 50
3 – Wired - Rob Bassett – Bakewell-White 52
Division B
1- Georgia One - Jim Farmer - Farr 43
2 - Power Play - Ian McBurney - Cookson 12
3 - Bobby’s Girl - John Melville - Farr 40
Division C
1 - Hard Labour - Cameron Thorpe - Farr 1020
2 – Resolve - Tapio Sorsa - Farr 1020
3 – Slipknot - Mike Spratt - Bavaria Match
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Team Support Staff Wanted
Yachting New Zealand seeks to appoint support staff to the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team 2007. Applicants should be accredited under the YNZ Coaches scheme to a minimum of YNZ Level 2 Coaches Certificate, or be willing to achieve this level within 12 months.
A demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate youth aged athletes and a high degree of technical knowledge in one or more of the ISAF Youth Sailing Classes is required. The successful applicant/s may be expected to attend YNZ Youth Squad and NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team training events as required, including the Volvo ISAF Youth Worlds in Kingston, CAN.
The deadline for application is 27 March 2007; more information and application details are on the YNZ website through the link below.
[ Application Form ]
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Dinghy and Keelboat Instructor Courses
We have a number of courses scheduled in the coming months. Thanks to generous funding from the Auckland Regional Council all Auckland Courses are free of charge. If you would like to participate in any of these courses you can download an application form from the website through the link below or contact:
sabra@yachtingnz.org.nz.
Auckland Instructor Courses (Dinghy) - No Charge
Venue: French Bay Yacht Club
Dates: April 21/28 (2 x Saturdays)
Applications Close 6/4/07
Venue: Ponsonby Cruising Club - No Charge
Dates: May 9/10/11 2007
Applications Close 27/4/07
Wellington Instructor Course (Dinghy) - $110/person
Venue: Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
Dates: April 27/28/29 2007
Applications close 13/04/07
West Coast (North Island) Instructor Course (Dinghy) - $110/person
Venue: New Plymouth Yacht Club
Dates: May 25/26/27 2007
Applications close 4/5/07
Canterbury Instructor Course (Dinghy) - $110/person
Venue: Naval Point Club Lyttelton
Dates: May 4/5/6 2007
Applications close 20/4/2007
Wellington Instructor Course (Keelboat) - $110/person
Venue: Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
Dates: May 20/21/22 2007
Auckland Instructor Course (Keelboat) - No Charge
Venue: Bucklands Beach Yacht Club
Dates: June 15,16,17 2007
[ Application Form ]
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Noise Controls on Marine Farms
Yachting New Zealand v Tasman District Council
The Environment Court heard Yachting New Zealand’s reference appeal regarding noise controls on marine farms in the Tasman District in July last year. The Court issued its decision on 20 February 2007.
In summary the court took the view that the noise rules proposed by YNZ would be difficult if not impossible to implement effectively. The Court took this view on the basis that there were practical problems with monitoring and enforcing the rules YNZ proposed. The Court has decided that Tasman District council’s current plan provisions (which do not set any particular noise limit) are appropriate and adequate.
The Council and marine farming interests opposed YNZ’s proposed rule and gave evidence that it would be too difficult to enforce. Essentially the Council and the marine farming interests sought to “muddy the waters” by raising as many potential problems as possible. The marine farming interests suggested that the proposed rules should be supported by a significant volume of data and analysis, and the Court largely accepted this view. The consequence of this approach by the Court is that a targeted approach working to a relatively small budget did not provide the level of data and analysis the Court wished to see.
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New National Champions
After a number of recent National Championships regattas… here is a list of winners in the various classes who have sent us results and reports. Congratulations to all the winners!
3.7 National Champion – Kevin Holland
IRC Nationals – Georgia One – Jim Farmer (skipper), Rhonda McCrea, George Hendy, Rick Royden, Bryan Davies, Sabra Davies, Rhett Jeffries, Ross McKee, Jesse Matheson, Chris Funnel, Craig Shelley, James Williamson
Noelex 22 – Dragos Blaga
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Sailing Have A GO! Trailer – Storage Required.
The three trailers used in the Sailing.. Have a Go programme require storage from late April through to October. We have secured storage for our Central Region trailer in New Plymouth but are still looking for some secure and hopefully covered storage for the Southern and Northern trailers. If there is anyone who may be able to assist then please contact: sabra@yachtingnz.org.nz
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Correction: Preliminary dates for P class and Starling
Preliminary dates for the next P Class and Starling national championships as published in Briefings 7 March 2007 have altered slightly. Torbay Sailing Club will host the event which will start soon after Christmas.
P Class & Starling North Islands
20 - 22 October 2007
Torbay Sailing Club
P Class & Starling Nationals
28 Dec 2007 - 8 Jan 2008
Torbay Sailing Club
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Entry Deadline Extended: Steven Dyke HYUNDAI Youth Sail 07
Entries are flowing in for the NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team selection trials to be held at Worser Bay Boating Club in April. The organisers have been fielding some queries from sailors who have missed the cut off date for the advanced entry discount. As a result the organisers have decided to extend the normal closing dates for entries until Wednesday 3rd April.
The notice of race and entry form can be downloaded from the event website at: www.hyundaiyouthsail07.org.nz
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Teams Racing at Lake Ngaroto
Over the weekend of 10-11 March, twelve school teams from around the North Island competed in Teams Racing at Lake Ngaroto. The location provided a great place for the sailors to mix with their peers, while waiting for racing, with light winds on the first 2 days. On the final day, a good steady breeze enabled the racing to be completed.
Mahurangi College from Warkworth showed consistent form winning all their races. Throughout the regatta there were a lot of tight battles, with many races being decided on the finish line.
The top five final placings…
1 – Mahurangi
2 - Lindisfarne (Napier)
3 - Whangarei Boys High School
4 - Francis Douglas
5 - Long Bay
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Important Announcement!
The staff at Yachting New Zealand would like to congratulate Jodie Perkins our Communications and Events Manager and Yacht Designer Brett Bakewell-White who are getting married in Kaikoura on Friday. Brett spotted Jodie during one of Yachting New Zealand’s functions which Jodie was masterminding. So struck was he that they soon started appearing in public together and they became engaged approximately 6 months ago. The couple will be honeymooning in the South Island and we expect Jodie back in the office after Easter.
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Sad Passing
Yachting New Zealand regrets to announce the passing of Warren Williams. Warren was the Commodore of Muritai Sailing Club and was a force for yachting throughout the Wellington area. His contribution will be long-lasting and his passion for our sport will be sadly missed. Yachting New Zealand sends condolences to Warren's family, Jenny, Ashleigh, Becky and Stewart.
Yachting New Zealand also sends its sympathy to the family of Al McLaughlan. Al was Vice Commodore of Ponsonby Cruising Club and died recently after a very short illness. Al was known for his work starting keelboat races on Auckland harbour. Al had fitted out his own committee boat with all the latest gear. He frequently took on the duties that others declined and was dedicated to just making it happen on the water. His passing will leave an enormous gap among the volunteers in Auckland.
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