Bid on Art to send four young Picton Sailors to Splash Worlds
by Rob Burn on 13 Jul 2009
Rick Edmonds
Fundraising, sponsorship, raising enough money to finance your junior sailors campaign towards higher honours.
In the best of times most parents find it not an easy task, in these economic hard times even worst, and when you are the parents of two National Champions from a very small club in the South Island, it becomes like climbing Mt Cook in Jandals.
Rob and Carolyn Burn of the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, Picton, parents of 17 yr old Declan Burn, National Splash Class Champion and 13yr old Taylor Burn, National and Open Optimist Champion, and first South Islander winner, are sending their two sailors to their respective Worlds at the end of this month.
The Splash Worlds in Pwllheli, Wales and the Optimist Worlds are in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The budget for each sailor is around $10,000 including entry fees, Charter boat hire, travel, uniforms, accommodation, regatta coaching, ground travel, insurance etc.
Most of us know what is required to achieve, constant travelling to regattas, mostly in Auckland which for the Picton sailors is a three hour ferry ride and a 9 hour drive each way. Regular quality coaching, updating sailing equipment and not least, travelling to at least two International regattas per season, sometimes more. Taylor alone has made 10 trips to regattas in Japan, Doha, Singapore, Australia etc, from his first trip away to New Caledonia as a nine yr old, 9 of those trips representing NZ.
With the help of two other top Queen Charlotte Sailors, Josh Edmonds and Scott Fyfe, also on their way to the Splash Worlds, and for Josh, via the International Pacific Ring Youth Regatta in Japan, and their parents, a concerted effort has been made locally to contribute to their travelling budgets.
Elegant 'High Tea' at the Fyfes with the sailors as waiters provided a sense of occasion to highlight the upcoming main even, the Art auction of Rick Edmonds paintings to be held in Blenheim, July 24 at the Marlborough Centre.
Rick Edmonds, father of Josh, is a very well known Marlborough Sounds Artist, known for stunning seascapes and works of water and the Sounds. Rick is a passionate sailor, his works influenced by a lifetime of living on and around the sea. He has produced 10 works to be auctioned, Marlborough Wine and food including handmade chocolates will add to the bidding.
The paintings will be on display locally for viewing, the catalogue will be online at the Yacht Club website www.qcyc.org.nz
and phone bids will be accepted. This will be a great chance to secure a Rick Edmonds work, starting with low reserves.
To sell all paintings and the other donated goods would be a great result and go a long way to funding all four sailors to perform at their best on the World stage. Raising the sailors profile collectively has ensured the Marlborough community are behind the sailors and are eager to follow their progress as the Championships get underway.
For further information of to make a telephone bid, contact:
Rob Burn
Queen Charlotte Yacht Club
www.qcyc.org.nz
+64 (0)27 221 0751
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