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It was a frustrating day for all at the first day of the Laser National Championships at Napier Sailing Club. The fleet of over 100 was on the water for the scheduled 1pm start but the wind spent the whole afternoon boxing the compass and constantly varying from nothing to 20+knots so only one race was completed for the Laser Open division with none of the other divisions managing to complete a race.

For the first time in more than 10 years, a New Zealand Paralympic class Sonar team has entered a major regatta. David Barnes, Rick Dodson and Andrew May are a hot team to watch for at the Miami Olympic Class Regatta which starts on January 27th. Known as Team “Rio Gold” this team of individually accomplished sailors have recently started training in Auckland in the Etchell Keelboats, as New Zealand does not yet have any of the three person Paralympic class Sonar keelboats in the country.

On January 27th 2013, Olympic Gold Medallist Jo Aleh will be one of the many helping Sailability Auckland celebrate 20 years of organized sailing for people with a disability in New Zealand

Entries are now firming up as boats complete their qualifications. So far we have 8 boats entered from Wellington and Nelson, with Wedgetail and Am Meer completing their qualifying voyages over the Christmas break. If you haven’t already completed the Advanced Sea Survival course, a reminder that Wellington Ocean Sports is running one over the weekend of January 26 – 27 so get in quick. Click here to register, or contact them direct for more information.

There will be plenty of action off Maraetai Beach in Auckland late January when the Maraetai Sailing Club host the 2013 New Zealand Paper Tiger Nationals from January 24 to 28. The event will see over 50 boats from all over the country competing in spectacular fashion off Maraetai Beach in the Tamaki Straits with the racing format expected to produce some very tight results.

Sailors from all over New Zealand descended upon Wellington this past weekend for the Seaview Sails and Rigging Starling North Island Championships regatta for 2013, held in Eastbourne and hosted by the Muritai Yacht Club. Held over three days in what can only be described as boat and sailor breaking conditions, over 50 competitors took to the water in their singlehanded dinghies to contest the nine race series. The regatta was a closely fought contest, with most of the top positions not decided until the final race.

A number of yacht clubs are finding a school holiday programme delivering Learn to Sail 1… Start Sailing! over a four-day intensive a popular option through January.

Notices of Race have been released and online entry is now open for two Regional Championships: the 2013 Asia Pacific Access Class Championships and the 2013 European Championships. We have the links for you

Anyone planning to compete in Auckland Anniversary Regatta should get their entry in as soon as possible. Approximately 500 boats are expected on Monday 28 January, and although late entries are accepted, organiser Joyce Talbot asks that entries are submitted before the late entry date (21 or 24 January depending on the event entered) wherever possible.

The M Class association with the support of Hyundai Motors New Zealand and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club are proud to announce the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of M-Class yacht racing. The 2012/13 season will mark 90 uninterrupted seasons of racing on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour for the iconic M-Class, affectionately known as the ‘Emmy’.

Just like the city itself, Auckland Anniversary Regatta is a melting pot of cultural experiences, and the regatta is pleased to welcome the return of Dragon Boating. It's the Chinese year of the Water Dragon, and Dragon Boats will take to the water, for Auckland Anniversary Regatta, on Monday 28 January. Crewed by ten paddlers, plus a drummer to set the rhythm, and a sweep or helm to guide the boat in a straight line, the boats, which are from Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Hamilton, will be based at Waitemata Plaza, and will race from approximately 10am-4pm in the Viaduct Basin.

Peter Burling is not the only kiwi showing them how it’s done across the Tasman – Nick Egnot-Johnson has finished at the top of the leader-board at the 2013 Australian Optimist National Championship Regatta where a fleet of 130 sailors were racing in the Open division.

This race coach course will be held at Wakatere Boating club on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th February. 8th February 5-9pm. 9th February 9am-5pm. Bring along; Your laptop or a notebook to take notes, Sailing gear (the Saturday you will sail and be on the coach boat doing some practical elements of the course).

Peter Burling has cleaned up the 2013 Australian Moth Championships Regatta held over the last week at the Wangi RSL Sailing Club, north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. During the 15 race series staged over six days, Burling dominated the fleet winning no less than ten of those races. He only finished outside the top six in just one race and concluded the regatta 14 points clear of second place-getter Scott Babbage. Reigning world champion in the Moth Joshua McKnight finished third.

Radio controlled sailing isn't just for retired yachtsmen: the current generation of America's-Cup pros are also enjoying the challenges of racing miniature boats, and Wattle Farm in Manurewa is one of the best venues in New Zealand for the purpose.

The 47th Black Heart Hartley 16 Nationals to be held in New Plymouth next week are ready to go with 23 boats entered coming from Whangarei, Auckland, Napier and New Plymouth.

The official event website has been launched for the 2013 Finn Gold Cup to be held in Tallinn, Estonia from August 23-31. www.finngoldcup.org/2013 The Finn Gold Cup will be the fourth world championship for an Olympic sport hosted in Estonia. The Finn class previously sailed its very successful 1994 Gold Cup at Pärnu, and the event website includes a video of that event, together with an interview with the winner, a very young Fredrik Lööf (SWE), who of course captured the Star Gold medal at last year’s Olympic Games.

Firstly, we wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year! And follow up with a bit of an update… It has been a rather different time for us the last few months, it’s been crazily busy, but not so much the sailing and training busy that we are used to. We have visited countless schools and yacht clubs all over New Zealand, been to rather a few school prize givings, numerous corporate events, a few sports award evenings and even met some royals! Our medals have passed through thousands of hands, and overall it has all been rather a bit of a whirlwind end of the year!

Are you looking for a way to provide accessible sailing at your club? Looking to establish a sailing group for people with a disability? The NZ Access Class Association with help from AMP has two Access 303 dinghies available for loan.

Hundreds more Wellington children are now experiencing ocean water sports in their own backyard … Wellington Harbour. Through a KiwiSport-funded programme, the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (RPNYC) is delivering a two-hour ocean water sports introduction in either keelboat sailing, dinghy sailing, kayaking, waka ama or windsurfing to at least 1250 school children during this summer.

This race coach course will be run at RPNYC over the first 3 monday nights in February. 4th February 5-9pm, 11th February 5-9pm, 18th February 5-9pm

January 7-9th, CBYC welcomed 52 Optimist sailors of all ages and abilities to the annual Junior Sailing Camp. I went along to help out and see what was going on at the club for the 1st 2 days. The 2 days threw a mixture of conditions with winds blowing 0-30 knots and most directions. But the sun continued to shine and warm weather was had for all.

Just two weeks remain to get your entry sorted for Oceanbridge Sail Auckland- registrations close on Friday 25 January! We have the link for you to register online now, and more info on the travel subsidy.

Napier Sailing Club is again running the Boaters and Blazers Chase as a part of the Art Deco Week held annually in Napier. The date is set for Saturday 16th February. Last year’s inaugural event drew 70 competitors in a wide range of sail boats dating from 1930s dinghies to latest cats and keelers. This year entries include Idle Alongs, a Dragon, a couple of X Class and a Silver Fern all dating pre 1950.

Poole, Great Britain is set to welcome a stellar cast of Paralympic and both able-bodied and disabled Worlds medallists when it hosts one of the most unique sailing events on the international racing calendar this year - the International 2.4 Metre class Open World Championships.

The accolades and reward continue to come for our 2012 Olympic sailing medallists with two exciting announcements over the Christmas period. Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie were included in the New Year’s Honours list each recognised with the MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to sailing, alongside all of New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic gold medallists.

Talented young up and comer Leonard Takahashi-Fry, representing the Wanganui/Manawatu region has secured the 2013 Tanner Cup in trying conditions. Cameron Moss from North Harbour was second with Cole Rippey, from Bay of Plenty, third. Nelson Yacht Club is playing host to the prestigious Tanner and Tauranga Cup Regattas this week with uncharacteristic weather playing its part in the regional Tanner Cup event which was sailed over Sunday and Monday.

Here’s a look at the up-coming sailing related events around the country for the next couple of weeks. See the YNZ on-line calendar for full details of these events and those on later in January and beyond. Are you organising an event you would like to see included? Don’t miss out on some free promotion for your sailing events by adding them to the YNZ on-line calendar here.

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is getting closer and closer - January 23 -24 - 25, 2013 – and entries are still coming in. Take a look at your potential competition and DO IT. The Bay of Islands is a natural sailing and racing venue. To enjoy a variety of competition you don’t have to cross the Tasman, it’s in your own back yard. Join us for the fun three day regatta.

The New Zealand Access Class Association has an opportunity for you to show your support for growing inclusive sailing opportunities in NZ - contribute to class development by becoming a member today!

They do things a bit differently in the world of classic sailing and with two major regatta weekends nearing, including Auckland Anniversary Weekend activities in Mahurangi and Auckland in January, and Southern Trust Classic Yacht Regatta in February, preparations are in full swing to make sure that everything is well and truly ready, boats included.