The New Zealand Sailing Team crew skippered by Stephanie Hazard have underlined their London 2012 Olympic Games medal-winning prospects by winning the Australian women’s match racing championship on Hobart’s River Derwent.

Hazard, sailing with Susannah Pyatt (bow), Nichola Trudgen (trim and pit) and Jenna Hansen (main), progressed through a double round robin to the semi-finals and then winning the final last Sunday in convincing style. 

“The racing was tight and eventful and the competitors kept us working hard right to the bitter end,” commented the Kiwi team, who all came from a dinghy background at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron before being brought into the NZL Sailing Team this year.

After finishing a close second overall in the two round-robins to Australia’s high ranked Olivia Price and her crew from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the New Zealand women fought back through the semi-finals and final to win the title.

The ten crews of young women from Australia and New Zealand had had three days of, at times, tough sailing conditions before today, when Hobart turned on perfect sunny weather with a 10-12 knot sea breeze coming up the Derwent.

The four semi-finalists responded with some brilliant tactical sailing, showing aggressive pre-start skills more like America’s Cup match racing veterans. The four semi-finalists, in ranking order, were Olivia Price (AUS) on 16 points from the double round-robin, Stephanie Hazard (NZL) 15, Nina Curtis (AUS) 14 and Amanda Scrivenor (AUS). 

Both Prize and Hazard won their semi-final clashes with the other Australian crews and in the final Hazard proved too strong for the young Sydney crew led by Price.

The regatta, hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, was staged over four days, with ten teams of four women battling it out on the River Derwent. Racing for the Australian Women’s Match Racing Championship was in Elliott 5.9s.

The women now return to New Zealand to resume their training schedule.

Danielle Bowater was at the helm of the second New Zealand crew competing in Tasmania – they placed sixth out of ten teams.

Jon-Paul Tobin collects Bronze in Perth

A team of New Zealand’s Olympic class campaigners have been competing in Fremantle at the Perth International Regatta where the final races were sailed last Sunday and the medals presented.

Image by Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

The notorious ‘Fremantle Doctor’ was in full force in the lead-up to the regatta, but failed to show when racing got underway and the event was hampered by postponements and shortened schedules.

NZL Sailing Team RS:X sailor Jon-Paul Tobin won bronze among a world class fleet of board sailors.

While the NZL Sailing Team saw this regatta predominantly as an opportunity for venue familiarisation ahead of the important 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, it also presented a chance to line up against some top competition with a good number of high level international campaigners in Western Australia for the event.

The Men’s RS:X fleet, for example, featured Israel’s Shahar Zubari, Britain’s Nick Dempsey, Ricardo Santos from Brazil and Dorian van Rijsselberge from the Netherlands – stiff competition indeed for our own Jon-Paul Tobin. Seven races were sailed, and with Tobin strong on consistency he sailed through to collect the bronze behind overall winner, van Rijsselberge, and silver medallist Santos.

Among the next best placed of the NZL Sailing Team was Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in the exciting 49er skiff class, in fourth place just two points off collecting a medal as the regatta concluded. Aussie’s Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen took the win in fine fashion with five race wins in nine races sailed.
 
Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie also finished fourth in the Women’s 470 event decided after an abbreviated series in which just four qualifying races were sailed, followed by the top ten medal race. Opening with two wins and a 2nd place the kiwis were looking in good shape for a medal, but slipped to fourth after placing 8th and collecting 16 points in the medal race.

With 68 entries the Laser was the largest fleet in Perth and the NZL Sailing Team’s Laser Squad featured strongly at the top of the board once more. Andrew Murdoch finished fifth, with Andy Maloney close behind in sixth place while young Sam Meech was eleventh.

Also among the top ten in their fleet were both New Zealand entries in the Men’s 470 class. Mark Overington and Ben Goodwin finished sixth, while Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders finished eighth. 

Read more and see all of New Zealand’s results here. Follow the NZL Sailing Team via Facebook.

Tim Coltman and team wins 2010 HARKEN International for RPNYC

After four gruelling days of racing, The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club team of Tim Coltman, Michael Trudgen, Hana Maguire and Matt Clough won the 2010 HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship hosted by the RPAYC in Sydney following a perfect day on Pittwater today with a resounding 3-0 victory over Jordan Reece representing the RSYS.

Coltman who had a 1-1 record against Reece in the round robin stage was exuberant after taking victory, “I’m thrilled to win the HARKEN. It’s been an interesting week. The score doesn’t reflect how close it was with Jordan today. A couple of the finishes could have gone either way. There were a few times when we were behind today and the crew really dug deep to fight back and regain the lead. It’s a great feeling,” said an elated Coltman after clinching the victory.

This is the first time the Wellington Club the RPNYC have won the HARKEN Youth International Match Racing Championships in its 18 year history of the event after finishing 3rd last year. It’s the second year in a row the New Zealanders have climbed the podium to take out the Rockin’ Robin Trophy.

See the RPAYC website for the full report and more images.

ETNZ takes the risks and reaps the rewards

Emirates Team New Zealand took four points from two wins on Tuesday on the last day of round robin 2 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai Regatta.
In both races the team got the starts it wanted then picked the wind shifts and took commanding leads.

Today’s points put Emirates Team New Zealand a clear second on the leader board at the end of the round robins. The four top teams – BMWOracle Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand, Mascalzone Latino and ALL4ONE – go through to the semi-finals.

No racing on Wednesday. Shore crews will be busy on boat maintenance while sailing teams take a day off after nine strenuous days of racing.

Keep reading on the ETNZ website.

Conrad Colman arrives into Guadeloupe

Conrad Colman – the only New Zealander in the 2010 Route du Rhum – arrived into Guadeloupe on November 21st.

The kiwi, who was hampered by sail damage, battled through to finish in 28th place in the 40 strong Class 40 fleet finishing in 21 days, 9 hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds after leaving with an average speed of 6.89 knots.

“His boatspeed (despite being minus the big kite and gennaker) was very impressive as was his strategy, once he had freed himself from the High, where he had got stuck due to the sail issues,” reports Ann Hinton.

“He was bitterly disappointed not to be able to get back to 10th place, after falling to the mid-30s - and clearly has great things ahead of him, if he can obtain sponsorship money for good equipment for future races.”

Conrad is currently looking for a title sponsor for the double handed Global Ocean Race 2011-12, which stops in Wellington, and for which he is already entered. More on www.conradcolman.com and www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com/en

Robertson crowned Match Racing Champion

Phil Robertson was crowned the Telecom New Zealand Match Racing Championship beating Josh Junior 3-1 in the final last Sunday. 

Robertson joins Dean Barker, Chris Dickson, Gavin Brady & Rod Davis on the list of names engraved on the New Zealand Match Racing Cup.  

“We had a lot of fun out there, but it was hard work.  We had some tight matches, despite what the deltas might show.  We sailed well today in the final, but we had to, as there was a strong breeze today and you are vulnerable if you go hunting penalties in that breeze – it’s just not worth it” said Robertson after being presented with the New Zealand Match Racing Cup.  

Read a full account of the exciting final day on the RNZYS website, where you will also find photos.

FINAL RESULTS
1st - Phil Robertson
2nd - Josh Junior
3rd - Will Tiller
4th - Reuben Corbett
5th - Chris Dickson
6th - David Wood
7th - Dan Pooley
8th - Samantha Osborne
9th - Byeong Ki Park

Sir Peter Blake Regatta

With ten days to go the countdown is on to the 2010 Sir Peter Blake Regatta and entries are flooding in with 180 received already earlier this week, tracking as predicted, towards an expected record of 450-500 entries.

Organisers at the Torbay Sailing Club have received Sir Peter Blake Regatta branded race bibs ready for distribution to the first 500 competitors – valued at $40 each.

And thanks to Air New Zealand Holidays, five days of accommodation for a family of four in Rarotonga is up for grabs in a Parent’s Draw. 

The regatta is Torbay Sailing Club’s and New Zealand’s premiere centreboard yachting event, held annually at Waiake Beach, Torbay. The regatta is traditionally held over the first weekend in December, close to the anniversary of Sir Peter Blake’s death, with this year’s dates being 4th - 5th December. 

The event promotes the values and characteristics of Sir Peter Blake; enjoyment of the sport of sailing, team-mateship and care for the environment. While the regatta maintains a youth focus, it caters for all ages and abilities, attracting a good mix of adult sailors.

See the Torbay Sailing Club website for more information.

Finn and Noelex 22 North Island Championships

11 Finns and four Noelexs turned out for the Vanaheim Technologies Ltd 2010 Finn and Noelex 22 North Island Championships staged on the Firth of Thames hosted by the Thames Sailing Club on the 13th and 14th November.

“Saturday brought difficult light shifty northerly conditions for the first two races and a nice 10-15 knot westerly kicked in a minute before the start of the third race,” reports NZCT Regional Support Officer, Kim Admore.

“There was also a reasonably strong tidal influence running across the course which caught out a few competitors. Ray Hall, Roger Hall and Brian Sanderson made the best of the conditions in the Finn class and in the Noelexs Paul Sloane and Ric Turner dominated the day.

“Sunday brought a fantastic 10-15 knot westerly which allowed spectators to admire how beautifully the Finns slice to windward through the Firths short chop.  Watching the pleasure the sailors were getting out of sailing their boats makes me wonder why we don’t have bigger fleets in this Olympic class.

Roger Hall sailed well to come out on top with only one point between second (Ray Hall) and third placed David Hoogenboom.

The Noelex class found the first reach pretty tight for their spinnakers but had some excellent racing to find the winner Paul Sloane.

“Thames Sailing Club put on a great event and it is good to see these classes sailing at some of the regional clubs,” adds Admore.

Full results can be found at here. 

Paper Tiger action at Ngaroto

The second regatta on the Paper Tiger North Island Grand Prix circuit was hosted by the Ngaroto Sailing Club on 20-21 November.

“25 boats travelled from all four corners of the Island to compete at a fantastic regatta in a magnificent location,” reports Ryan (Rowdy) Leatham of the NZPTOA. “With nine past or present New Zealand Team members and three past national champs in attendance the completion was always going to be fierce.”

Five races were completed over the two days with Saturday being a day for the light breeze specialists while Sunday provided some more breeze and a lot of entertainment for those watching the tight racing from the Grandstand on the banks of the lake.

“Racing was tight throughout the regatta with multiple lead changes in every race, the first race saw the finishers pen working overtime with six boats crossing the line within ten seconds.

“The short leg races made for some intense racing and meant that everyone got plenty of tacking and mark rounding practice.

“After the two days of tight racing the results for second and third went to a count back while the winner was only two points ahead.

“A huge thanks to the team at Ngaroto Sailing Club for their magnificent hospitality and race management, it is always an amazing place to visit!

With two regattas now completed in the North Island Grand Prix Series, Scott Pedersen (the defending champion) has a significant lead and is the man to beat heading into the final two rounds at Turangi and Taupo in early 2011.

Full results are available on line

Volcano race next challenge for TeamVodafoneSailing

 A race around New Zealand’s only active marine volcano is the next big test for the Orma 60 trimaran, TeamVodafoneSailing.

White Island (Whakaari), located 49km off the coast of Whakatane, is the destination for the Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s annual 310nm race. The volcano is estimated to be more than 100,000 years old, and features beds of yellow and white sulphur crystals and bubbling fumaroles, that make it uninhabitable to most plants and animals. 

On Friday 26 November the race will take TeamVodafoneSailing and its fellow competitors out of the Hauraki Gulf past the top of the Coromandel, around White Island, and back home via the same route.

The current record time was set in the 2006 edition of the race by the 50’ Canting Keel racer ‘Pussy Galore’ then owned by Anatole Masfen with a time of 33 hours 41 minutes.

For TeamVodafoneSailing the race could take less than 15 hours – but that would require close to ideal wind direction at each turn of the course, an unlikely scenario.

In October the boat set a new record in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic when it became the fastest multihull to complete the race, but still finished outside the record set by the supermaxi Alfa Romeo in 2009.

The boat’s highest recorded speed in New Zealand is 39.6 knots, and so far this season, TeamVodafoneSailing has had seven line honours wins – a clean sweep.

“White Island is an excellent race, sailing around the volcano is always thrilling, and we are anticipating an excellent sail,” says the boat’s skipper, Simon Hull.

Youth Sailing

Government support for Optimist Worlds regatta

Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee recently announced the government, through its Major Events Development Fund, is investing $150,000 in the Optimist World Championships to be hosted in Napier at the beginning of 2012.

The World Championships, known as the OptiWorlds, is an annual event and is expected to attract 250 international competitors and 170 officials to New Zealand from over 50 countries.

"As a youth event taking place over the Christmas and New Year period, it is likely to attract a significant number of international visitors, providing economic benefits to the Hawkes Bay region and beyond in the period immediately following the 2011 Rugby World Cup," Mr Brownlee said.

"It also presents an opportunity for the region to promote its tourism and business strengths, and raise awareness of Napier's capabilities as an events destination.

"Sailing is a high-profile sport in New Zealand with a history of success at the international level.  These Championships will provide an opportunity for New Zealanders to watch a world class sporting event right on our doorstep."

The government's investment will support the delivery of the event, including a focus on broadcast distribution to maximise New Zealand's international exposure through the event.

The regatta will be organised by the New Zealand International Optimist Dinghy Association.  OptiWorlds organising committee chairman Peter Dawson said receiving government support was recognition of the significant economic impact the regatta's visitors would bring to the Hawkes Bay and the country. 

"The government backing also gives us huge credibility as we move into the second phase of our fundraising, seeking corporate sponsorships," Mr Dawson said.

"After the hugely successful World Rowing Championships and next year's Rugby World Cup, the OptiWorlds will continue the international exposure and benefits that come from hosting world class events," Mr Brownlee said. 

Hawkes Bay Members of Parliament Chris Tremain and Craig Foss paid tribute to local dinghy sailing enthusiasts Chris Devine and Adrian Mannering, who championed the successful bid.

RNZYS: National Youth Training Week

On at Kawau Island between 5th and 11th December, three spaces  to attend the 2010 Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s National Youth Training Week. This year the NEW fleet of 10 Elliott 7m training boats will be used.

Seven Clubs have entered including...

1. Naval Point Club
2. New Plymouth Yacht Club
3. Hamilton Yacht Club
4. Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
5. KeriKeri Cruising Club
6. Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
7. Lake Taupo Yacht Club

Three more spaces are available, so get in touch with the RNZYS now.

Yacht Clubs from around New Zealand are invited to send a four person youth crew to share in the intensive sailing experience synonymous with the world-renowned RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme.

This week of training gives young sailors the opportunity to receive intensive theoretical and practical instruction in the various aspects of competitive keelboat racing in a disciplined environment. 

The RNZYS site has more information, contact details, a brochure and the expression of interest form for download.

Admin, Safety and Training

International Race Officials reappointed

At the recent 2010 ISAF Annual Conference in Athens, the following Race Officials were approved for reappointment:

International Judge:
Ralph Roberts
Hal Wagstaff
Bevan Woolley
John Bullot

International Race Officers:
John Parrish
Richard Brown

Congratulations from Yachting New Zealand.

Of Interest

Golden Girls honoured by NZOC

The New Zealand Olympic Committee hosted a dinner on Thursday 18th November held at the Heritage Hotel to honour six of New Zealand’s most outstanding and respected sports women incuding our own golden girl, Barbara Kendall.

Image Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com

Special guest, US Olympian Richard (Dick) Fosbury, who revolutionized athletics with the ‘Fosbury Flop’, was invited to New Zealand by the New Zealand Olympic Committee as part of the occasion.

Fosbury said the event was “unique and I’ve never been to an Olympic event that has honoured female Olympians in such a wonderful way.”

He said the most enjoyable part of the evening was listening to the Golden Girls. He believed everyone would have been inspired as they heard some great stories. He was delighted he could meet such exceptional people.

Barry Maister, Secretary General for the New Zealand Olympic Committee said “It was a great one off event which will never be repeated. The insights, the memories, the celebration of success and achievement were ingredients which ensured a very special occasion for all those who attended.”

The six sportswomen who were honoured have each won an Olympic gold medal and are the only New Zealand women to do so. Each of the Golden Girls were treated to a standing ovation from the crowd after their interviews.

The gold medal winning women are:

Yvette Corlett (nee Williams), Helsinki 1952, Athletics (long jump)
Barbara Kendall – Barcelona 1992, Board Sailing (Lechner)
Sarah Ulmer – Athens 2004, Individual Pursuit (track cycling)
Caroline Meyer (nee Evers-Swindell) – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, Double Sculls (rowing)
Georgina Earl (nee Evers-Swindell) – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, Double Sculls (rowing)
Valerie Adams – Beijing 2008, Athletics (Shotput)

From the ISAF Conference

News from the ISAF Annual Conference in Athens, Greece at the start of November...

It was a big decision making day at the 2010 ISAF Annual Conference in Athens as the Council voted on the some of the key decisions in the sport.

The Council received a series of reports on the major ISAF events of the year before Phil Jones took to the floor to present an update on the Olympic Commission report and its findings.

Jones took Council through the Committee's views of the key issues facing ISAF their vision for the future of sailing as an Olympic sport which focuses on five core elements: increasing universality, expanding qualification opportunities; building popularity, improving event structure and enhancing the Olympic Games. In summing up Jones highlighted that 'the decisions to be made would affect the future of children who have posters of their sailing heroes on their bedroom walls'.

The two main Council decisions of the day centred on the Sailing World Cup and the provisional events for the 2016 sailing competition and provoked much debate around the Council table.

On the Sailing World Cup, ISAF council endorsed the work of the Olympic Commission and voted in favour of the vision to develop it as outlined in the Olympic Commission strategy and also voted in favour of investigating a World Cup Grand Final.

In the other key vote of the day, Council voted in favour of the Events Committee's provisional events slate for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition of:

Men's Board or kite board - evaluation of equipment
Women's board or kite board - evaluation of equipment
Men's one person dinghy – Laser
Women's one person dinghy - Laser radial
Men's 2nd one person dinghy – Finn
Men's skiff - 49er
Women's skiff - evaluation of equipment
Women's keelboat - Elliott 6m
Mixed multihull - evaluation of equipment
Mixed two person dinghy (spinnaker) - 470

This is a provisional list of events and subject to final confirmation in the ISAF mid year meeting in May 2011.

Yachting’s Dean Stanley wins Leadership Award

Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club Chief Executive Dean Stanley was awarded the 2010 Trish McKelvey Leadership Award at the Sport Wellington Annual Stakeholders function on Wednesday 17 November.

This award, named after a former long serving chairperson of Sport Wellington, recognises a person who has provided outstanding leadership in the sports sector over the preceding years as an administrator, coach, official, player or a combination of these.

The recipient will have demonstrated leadership qualities which ‘made a difference’.

Stanley has a long history in the sport having cut his jib as a youngster mucking about on boats on the Foxton Estuary and later sailing on Wellington Harbour. Over the years many hours were spent on yachting projects as a volunteer. Early in 2009 he changed his career tack to lead local yachting as CEO of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, where in a relatively short time he has made an incredible impact.

This has included a new vision for the club, strategic and business goals and significant initiatives.

Read more on the RPNYC website.

Open Day for Mistrals at Tamaki Yacht Club

Tamaki Yacht Club and the Mistral Owners Association are offering you the opportunity to come along and learn more about New Zealand’s iconic Mistral Dinghy - Auckland's friendliest two-person, spinnaker dinghy.

They are holding an Open Day at Tamaki Yacht Club on Saturday 27th November from 10.30am until 1.30-pm.

Activities include, try-a-boat, boats and gear for sale, sausage sizzle and meet Members of the very active and competitive TYC Mistral fleet.
 
“The Des Townson designed Mistral is the ideal parent and child progressive dinghy, ideal for training, competitive racing, or simply sailing for fun,” says Nick Brewer from the Mistral Owners Association and Tamaki Yacht Club.

To learn more come along to Tamaki Yacht Club, Tamaki Drive on 27th November or contact Katharine Davis, Mistral Class President on (09) 535 2267.

Emergency Crew Book

Regan Grafton has launched his Emergency Crew Book, created to equip even the least boat savvy passenger with a step by step guide on what to do in a boating emergency.

The book is written in plain English and features quick reference tabs covering useful topics like equipment location, mayday, first aid, run aground, fire, rough seas, starting the motor and trouble shooting.

“I was prompted to write the Emergency Crew Book after reading an article about a fatal boating accident where a lack of boating knowledge was a contributing factor in the loss of life,” says Grafton.

“It struck me – what if something happened to me, would my friends, wife or work colleagues know where the flares were located or even how to start the motor? Would they know how to set and make a maday call that could be the difference between life and death? Probably not.”

Volvo Stopover Team Leader Sought

The Volvo Ocean Race is a high profile round-the-world yacht race, held every three years, and spans a nine month period that includes a number of stopovers. These stopovers provide significant economic benefits for host cities, generating millions of dollars of economic activity and increasing global media exposure for the port and country.

The Auckland stopover in the 2011-2012 Ocean Race is going to be a major event for New Zealand, and a Team Leader is sought to coordinate the pre-planning of the event. This role will focus on the preparation and development of things such as event infrastructure and the village site design to gain resource consent as well as activation of the village and coordinator of concurrent events for the 10-day stopover. Key features of this role include strategic planning, project management, event and community engagement management and building and maintaining important stakeholder relationships.

This is a chance to lead one of the key teams involved in delivering yet another of Auckland's major events. This is a fixed term position until April 2012 within the Tourism, Events and Economic Development CCO (Council Controlled Organisation).

Apply online by Wednesday, 1 December 2010.

To apply for this fixed term job, please go to this job site https://careers.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Here’s a line up of yachting on around the country over the coming two weeks.

Visit our online calendar to see what’s on, and don’t miss out on some free promotion for your next event...submit your event to our online calendar here.

Napier Sailing Club Summer Regatta, 27 – 28 November
Napier Sailing Club 
more>
 
TYC Mistral Class Open Day, 27 November
Tamaki Yacht Club
more>

Tracker 7.7 Association Open Day, 28 November
Westhaven
more>

2010 Sir Peter Blake Regatta, 4 - 5 December
Torbay Sailing Club
more>

2010 SI P and Starling Championships, 4 -5 December
Otago Yacht Club
more>

Phoenix Regatta, 4 – 5 December
Burkes St Leonards Boating Club
more>

2010 NZ Women's National Keelboat Championships, 10 – 12 December
Royal Akarana Yacht Club
more>

Laser South Island Champs, 11 – 12 December
Nelson Yacht Club
more>

Wakatere Junior Regatta, 11 December
Wakatere Boating Club 
more>
 
Senior & Youth Classes Regatta incl. NI Int.Moth Champs, 111 – 12 December
Takapuna Beach
more>

Campbell Regatta, 18 – 19 December
Owaka Yacht Club 
more>