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Both NZL Sailing Team crews competing at the opening regatta of the 2013-14 ISAF Sailing World Cup series for Olympic class sailors have medalled with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie taking gold in the Women’s 470. Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox secured bronze in the Men’s 470.

The action will heat up on the final day of ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao with equations and what ifs running through sailors heads after an intriguing penultimate day of racing in Qingdao, China. Light winds and a strong current made racing a tricky affair for the six classes sailing at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition venue. The 470 and RS:X fleets enjoyed three races apiece and the Laser and Laser Radial two as the Medal Race spots were decided in a 5-6 knot breeze with an average current of 1.5 knots.

Sailors focus and fitness were tested on the fourth day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao as a teasing light southerly breeze played its way across the race tracks. Qingdao has showcased a whole host of conditions taking the 131 sailors from 24 nations from extreme big breeze to patient light wind tests.

With spray flying and one hull lifted skyward, Sean Langman’s giant trimaran Team Australia sped through Sydney Heads at 12:09:58 this afternoon bound for Auckland, New Zealand, and the record books. News helicopters buzzed overhead as the 60-footer began the chase to set the fastest logged time for the 1,260 nautical miles across the Tasman Sea.

Exciting close knit racing was the dish of the day in Qingdao, China as racing ramped up on the third day of ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao. The cool front that brought strong winds the day prior passed through enabling racing to commence at 11:00 local time. Northerly breeze at 16 knots at the start time slowly dropped down to 14 knots allowing three races across all fleets to be completed.

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After watching the America's Cup in San Fran the boys meet up again in Nice, France for the penultimate round of the Extreme Sailing Series. The first two days were very windy with some massive waves! Reefs were in the mains and helmets and life jackets were compulsory! It was the first time there has been big breeze all season so FMJ quickly learnt how to deal with the boat in big breeze! It was tough going but exciting racing. The next two days were light tricky and the regatta ended with The Wave Muscat winning going into the final act. It was a slow regatta for FMJ and the boy's ended up 8th.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao marks the start of the journey to the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships for the 131 sailors from 24 nations. Santander 2014 is the first qualification regatta for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and hopeful sailors are using the ISAF Sailing World Cup series to test themselves in a range of conditions against the best in the world.

In Peter Burling and Blair Tuke’s latest update they take a look back at their stellar year including the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and their first ever world title in the 49er class…

ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao threw out big breeze, strong gusts and wild waves as racing at the opening event of the 2013-14 ISAF Sailing World Cup began. A wind shift ahead of racing brought a strong northerly breeze that took the world's finest Olympic sailing talent close to the limits. Wind speeds in between 20-23 knots and gusts up to 30 knots made for exciting racing for the 131 sailors from 24 countries spread across the Laser, Laser Radial, Men's and Women's 470 and Men's and Women's RS:X fleets.

The sole New Zealand representative to compete at 2013 Semaine Olympique Franciase Regatta for Olympic class sailors in La Rochelle, France has come away with a silver medal. Kiwi RS:X windsurfer Natalia Kosinska won today’s medal race to pass France’s Eugenie Ricard and stand on the second step of the podium at the final 2013 EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup regatta which has just wrapped up at La Rochelle.

After spending the winter in the operating theatre at the hands of a skilled team of Noakes’ surgeons, Sean Langman’s Orma 60 trimaran has been re-launched ahead of a busy summer. The crew of Team Australia has just one week to test its new lifting prop, new rig and trimmer shape before six men, most of the same crew from the trimaran’s express run to Hobart back in February, will attempt to set an official Trans-Tasman speed record from Sydney to Auckland.

The entry list for 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will feature at least three reigning Olympic class world champions giving local and international sailors the opportunity to rub shoulders with, and compete against the world’s best.

One of the themes to come out of this year’s entry list in the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, is new entrants to the fleet setting out to achieve great things. But we aren’t talking about the newest, most high tech or grand prix yachts.

It was a Winter Champs like no other in recent years: Beautiful sunshine, flat seas and light breezes graced the racecourse between Rangitoto and Murrays Bay in Auckland’s North Shore for the sailors competing in the event that traditionally marks the divide between winter and summer sailing in Auckland.

Look no further for a vessel to race in the Coastal Classic this year, the New Zealand Sailing Trust has crew places available for people keen to experience Maxi yacht sailing. Sir Peter Blake’s iconic Round the World yacht, Lion New Zealand, will be racing from Auckland to Russell on the 25th October 2013. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to experience team racing on a maxi yacht. Participants do not need prior experience but should expect to be completely hands on and great team members working hard to achieve the best possible time.

The Yachting New Zealand Board of Directors will welcome Rodger Kerr-Newell (Board President), Greg Knowles (Board Member) and John Cobb (Board Member) at the up-coming Annual General Meeting. But two further positions remain open on the YNZ Board of Directors for appointed positions (not elected). The Board would welcome individuals with strong marketing experience and women passionate about yachting to address the female void that will be created with Jan Dawson’s departure. If you know of someone who fits the bill this is your opportunity to actively influence the future direction of your sport.

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 beyond that. 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.

The Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with Volvo Cars as the premier sponsor of the two-day event. New Zealand’s largest centreboard event and one of the most respected sailing events in Australasia, the Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta takes place annually in the first weekend of December.

With the Yachting New Zealand AGM just ten days away, on Saturday 19th October, it is time for Clubs to return your delegate form to YNZ.

An Open Day on this Saturday at the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club, situated prominently at the southern end of the Marina, will feature a Bring’n Buy sale.

Young New Zealand Windsurfers bring home Gold for the Worlds women race and a set of great results for the Europeans Great results were brought home by six teens who attended the Worlds, Europeans and Baltic Cup. The Gold Cup for the Worlds was won by Xanthe Bowater and both boys and girls were well placed in their classes.

After the yachting world watched the multi-hull action unfolding on San Francisco Bay recently, New Zealand is gearing up to celebrate the class which has now bred some of the talented sailors who took part in the America’s Cup last month.

The Canterbury Windsports Association is set to celebrate a major milestone… Put it in your calendar for the event of the year, 21st Birthday celebrations on 2nd November 2013!

Here is an overview of the essentials start you in the right direction for the beginning of your campaign in a Paralympic class boat.Why not get started today with more time on the water training and commit to some regattas?

It has been a little while since our successful World Championships in France and although it would have been a rather good time to have a bit of a break post event… We took the alternative option and have spent the last month and a half travelling all over the place – We are currently in Japan, China next week and even a trip to Oman in November – We will tell you what for!!

The PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic starts in Auckland and finishes in Russell on Friday 25 October. Is it America’s Cup fever, or simply anticipation of summer sailing? Three weeks out from the start, the hundredth entry has already been received in the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic Yacht Race.

Around 300 sailors will hit the water in the next three days for the Stack Winter Champs 2013 at Murrays Bay Yacht Club in Auckland’s North Shore, just as a high settles over the country. “The forecast is for light breezes, making for a challenging regatta for sailors and race management,” says the club’s Commodore, David Gunn, also owner of sponsor company Stack Interiors.