Wanaka Yacht Club- SAIL-SKI Regatta

by Chris Conroy on 8 Jul 2008
The Wanaka Yacht and Power Boat Club is hosting the now very popular sail-ski regatta which sees the competing teams snow ski racing over a slalom course at Snowpark nz then down to Lake Wanaka for a two day round robin series sailed in Etchells which are supplied as a part of the entry fee.

The format is simple. Three people make a team. Every sailor must ski and every skier must sail. The team results are combined.

The regatta has is beginnings in Wanaka when a group of sailing mates at the club got together and decided to combine the two sports we really loved, skiing and sailing. There must be a lot of yachties who ski as the interest from around the country and off shore has seen the regatta grow from nine teams to an expected maximum of twenty seven this year.

The Etchells will be available to train in on the 28 August which is the practice day.

The ski race venue is SNOW PARK NZ which has magnificent views across the Cardrona Valley to the Southern alps. The viewing facilities mean the racing is easy to watch from the new lodge building and chairlift. The skiers will take two runs down the slalom course and have their team results combined but kept secret until the prize-giving dinner which adds an element of doubt to the event as race times are recorded in hundredths of a second. The ski race track is set so that any skier of intermediate skill will easily complete the course.

In the tradition of alpine skiing a Mexican theme Apre's ski night is to be held in Wanaka so we can discuss the ski race and possibly have a quiet drink.

The contest then moves to The Beautiful Lake Wanaka where the Etchells will be waiting.The round robin series is to be sailed over a course which is designed with plenty of passing lanes. The intention is split the fleet into Gold, Silver and bronze after the first round robin if the winds and time allows.

The sailing winds up on Saturday 30 August with a prize giving dinner where the winners will be announced.

We welcome new entries.

The notice of race and entry is available on the YNZ web site. Entries are strictly first come first served.

No one goes home empty handed from the Sail-Ski Regatta.