News library

Been a rather busy two months since our last little update!

We have been all over the world, competed in two events, and are now about to begin our preparations for the Pre Olympic Test event in Rio, at the Olympic venue, at the Olympic time of year, etc etc.. Basically the Olympics without so much hype and one year early!!

Zhik have revamped the 'Club Z' offer for YNZ Member Clubs and Class Associations. Initially launched at the last Commodores Conference, this new look programme has taken on board feedback from clubs and classes to make Zhik product more accessible for New Zealand clubs and classes. 

Lancer Industries, a New Zealand company and world leader in inflatable boats and products,  have a special offer to extend to Yachting New Zealand member clubs in advance of the 2015/2016 sailing season. If your club needs a new set of buoys for racing or training, have a look at this offer which is available for a limited time only. Get your orders in by 31 August.  

The NZL Sailing Team group set to represent New Zealand at the 2015 Aquece Rio International Regatta on soon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are either already at the venue, or jumping on a plane to get there.

Having a Yachting New Zealand Safety Inspector undertake a safety inspection can put some boat owners under stress. However it is important to remember that the Safety Regulations are written by sailors, for sailors and that Safety Inspectors are there to make sure that you get to your destination and back safely. 

We are seeking a Membership Card Project Coordinator to join our dedicated team to manage the rollout of our new membership card progamme across our clubs.   

Uptake of Yachting New Zealand’s training courses has increased significantly with more than 400 participants enrolling in Race Management and Coaching courses around New Zealand in the twelve months to June 2015, compared to 246 in the previous year. 

New Zealand was represented by an eight strong sailing team at the 2015 420 World Championships sailed in Karatsu, Japan between 17-25 July. 

Maritime NZ is taking our "Get it on, or it's no good" lifejacket safety messages to a new level by offering two lucky winners the chance to go fishing with fish aficionados Big Angry Fish.  

During the two weeks of the recent school holidays, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club Sailing Academy again ran the ever popular youth match racing clinics on the Elliot 6s on Wellington Harbour. 

Recently two young New Zealand board sailors, Lauren Mackenzie and Finn Croft, travelled with Coach Dave Robertson to compete at the 2015 RS:X Youth World Championships on in Gdynia, Poland from 11-18 July. 

The weather had the final say at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth with racing abandoned for the day after wind was blowing up to 30 knots out on the race course which was deemed to dangerous for the fleet of foiling AC45F’s

Race day one at Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series proved to be a solid debut sailing for Emirates Team New Zealand in an official America’s Cup race for new Helmsman Peter Burling.

Yachting New Zealand is looking to employ two qualified sailing instructors for the 2015/2016 Volvo Sailing…Have a Go!programme.  The Central Region involves travel from Waikato to Wellington.  The Southern Region covers the whole South Island.  This is a contract position commencing late September 2015 and continuing through until mid-April 2016.

As the 100-plus strong OK Dinghy heads into next week's World Championship in Puck, Poland, Greg Wilcox (NZL) continues to lead the World Rankings, though his lead has been reduced to just 15 points from Jørgen Svendsen (DEN). Mike Williams (AUS) is a long way behind in third. So the top three remain the same.

Fifteen starts kept the Race Committee busy on race day 3 at Castle Bay Karatsu for the 2015 420 World Championships in Japan. Rain and poor visibility this morning opened up to an overcast race track for racing, set against the iconic backdrop of Karatsu Castle.

Expressions of interest are invited for the position of Sailing Coach at the Buckland Beach Yacht Club. 

This week marks two years since the final stages of the Louis Vuitton Cup round robin in San Francisco in 2013.

A long time between races by any stretch of an America’s Cup cycle. There have been many changes in that time for Emirates Team New Zealand, the obvious one being the new look sailing team for the first Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth. A mix of invaluable experience in Glenn Ashby and Ray Davies, and the four new faces to appear under the large red Emirates wing sail are Guy Endean, Harry Thurston, Blair Tuke and Peter Burling who bring a new approach to America’s Cup racing instinctive, intuitive and fearless.

All change on day 2 at the 2015 420 World Championships in Castle Bay Karatsu, Japan, with two races now completed for all fleets, helping the programme recover a bit from yesterday’s disarray after the effects of last week’s passing typhoon.

The RNZYS is pleased to announce this year’s team to attend the 49th Governor’s Cup Regatta is Leonard Fry (helm), George Anyon (main), Logan Andresen (bow) with Coach/Training Manager Guy Pilkington.

Starting on Thursday, this annual youth match racing regatta is held at the Balboa Yacht Club, California and is the first International event for this year’s Youth Training Programme squad.

Racing was abandoned on race day two of the 2015 Magic Marine Optimist European Championships as a combination of poor visibility and strong gusts saw none of the 10 scheduled races completed at Plas Heli, Pwllheli today (Monday 20 July).

November 6th 2015 has just been announced as the date of this year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race.  In its thirteenth year, this epic race across the Cook Strait combines the excitement of offshore yacht racing with the exhilaration of releasing the new vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine in our capital city.  

Whether you’re interested in coaching, helping to run races or both, Yachting New Zealand has a range of Coaching Courses and Race Official Seminars on around the country over the quieter winter months.

The International Order of the Blue Gavel Inc (IOBG) is one of the most exclusive organisations in the world Past Commodore’s fraternity that promotes, supplies help when requested, and shows a continued interest in boating activities. 

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) is adopting a new structure within its Sailing department and as such two new roles have been created and a recruitment process begun.

I am currently sitting in Toronto Airport waiting to board the first flight home to NZ, reflecting on what has been an intense six weeks overseas competing at two major events. The trip started in England where we trained in Weymouth before competing in the latest ISAF Sailing World Cup event. This was followed by a second and even larger event, being the 2015 Laser Standard Men’s World Championship. 

Murrays Bay Sailing Club are inviting past members or people in the community who have been associated with Murrays Bay Sailing Club to join the newly formed Murrays Bay Sailing Supporters (MBSS).

Following on from the success of last year’s MRX Youth Pathways regatta very ably run by Kohimarama Yacht Club, Wakatere Boating Club and MRX Yachting wish to invite crews of senior youth members, or recent graduates and their parents, from Auckland’s youth yacht clubs, to participate in this year’s MYX Youth Pathways racing.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke conquered a come-back challenge on the final day of the 2015 49er European Championship Regatta to successfully defend their title and further extend their remarkable string of victories in the class.

ISAF have informed Yachting New Zealand that they regret their recent efforts in speaking with the International Paralympic Committee have been unsuccessful in achieving their goal to get Paralympic sailing onto the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games programme. 

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have relinquished their overall lead with one day to go at the 2015 49er European Championships being staged in Porto, Portugal, while New Zealand has closed out the women’s 49erFX Championship with two top ten placings.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have taken the lead at the 49er European Championships on day four of the regatta on now in Porto, Portugal.