Issue date
Dear members
With so much going on in yachting around us it’s hard to know where to look. This year has been a fantastic one for New Zealand sailing and boating, and as the festive season rapidly approaches it’s a great chance for us to reflect as well as anticipate an equally exciting 2017.
The Aon Youth Sailing World Championship
It’s here this week! Sailors from across the globe are currently converging in Auckland and we are very much looking forward to the action unfolding, with 400 sailors from 67 countries battling it out from the Torbay Sailing Club from Thursday.
We’ve had a host of support to make this event happen in Auckland, and we’re truly excited to see the fruits of our hard work rewarded with a spectacle of youth sailing right here on our shores. I encourage everyone to head down to Torbay from 16-20 December to mix with youth sailing’s best international talent and cheer on our own NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team.
Our Volvo Sailing…Have A Go! trailer will also be onsite in Torbay during the week, providing a fantastic opportunity for kids to get out on the water while surrounded by the world’s best in youth sailing talent.
Aon Talent ID Clinic
At the same time, one of our AON Talent ID clinic’s is happening at Evans Bay Yacht and Power Boat Club and we have some great coaches down in Wellington who are helping around 20 sailors take their sport to the next level.
Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta
Looking to 2017, the inaugural Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta will be another great display of yachting which we are proud to be facilitating. The premiere Youth and Olympic classes regatta will take place from 3-6 February at the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, and I encourage anyone who is not yet entered or would like to get involved to do so now! Visit the event website to register here.
Partnership with Zhik and Maersk to continue
I’m thrilled to announce the partnership between Yachting New Zealand, Zhik and Maersk will continue for another Olympic cycle. We’re looking forward to greater engagement and building relationships over the next four years and it’s great to have them on board.
A big thanks to our sponsors
I’d like to heartily thank all our sponsors for being with us this year. Support from major sponsors Sport New Zealand, Aon, HRG, Volvo, High Performance Sport New Zealand, Zhik and Maersk enable us to continue delivering fantastic programs across the country.
A big thank you must also go out to Oceanbridge, NZL Yachting Trust, NZCT, The Lion Foundation, Foundation North, Air New Zealand, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, Nespresso, and Melanoma New Zealand for their support.
Safe boating and Merry Christmas!
Lastly, I’d like to wish everyone safe boating over the coming weeks as cruising grounds across New Zealand get busier over the Summer break. Remember your lifejackets and take care out there on the water.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a fantastic 2017.
All the best,
David Abercrombie
Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive
