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Colin Rickett wasn't planning on working much for the rest of the year - other than sprucing up the house - but couldn't really find any reasons why he wouldn't join Yachting New Zealand.
The 63-year-old (he doesn't mind mentioning his age) recently started as Yachting New Zealand programmes coordinator with the principal task of managing the Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! programme.
He's taken over a highly successful programme and last season a record 4000 school children were introduced to the fun of sailing.
Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! fits well with Rickett's interests. He's been a sailor for more than 40 years, having clocked up thousands of offshore miles and competed in anything from Wednesday night racing to the famed Sydney Hobart Race, and is gearing up for this month's PIC Coastal Classic on board the Welbourn 42 Wedgetail.
He also comes from a strong programme delivery background, having spent most of his working life with IBM. His last stint with the computer company was to set up a facility on campus at Unitec. He did that in 19 days.
"To find myself on a university campus and be surrounded by bright, young people as I came to the end of my working life was just fantastic," he said. "When I started I said I wanted to be the oldest person by a number of generations.
"I left IBM in 2016 and joined a shipping logistics company for a while. I got to my use-by date and figured I would take some time out and do some house refurbishment. Quite by accident I saw the advertisement for this job [at Yachting New Zealand]. Then I tried to find reasons why I wouldn’t express an interest in it and I couldn’t find any, so here I am.
"Sailing has been my major sport for a long time but this opens the door to a whole lot of different facets I have no experience in so it’s really cool. It’s got some giveback, some youth components. I’m walking around with a smile on my face."
The new Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! programme kicks off around the country next week and Rickett plans to spend a couple of days at Howick to acquaint himself with the operation.
Term four is mostly booked up but Rickett said there were plenty of spaces available for term one.
Rickett will also administer all national events, race officials qualifications, regatta calendar and appeals process.
"We're really excited to have Colin on board," Yachting New Zealand chief operating officer Andrew Clouston said. "He's got a deep understanding of the sport, is passionate about growing junior and youth participation and we're excited about what he can add to the team."
The Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! programme was set up off the back of Sir Peter Blake's vision to introduce all Kiwi kids to sailing, regardless of their background. It's now into its 14th season and is offered to schools throughout the country in terms four and one and is designed to give primary and intermediate school students the opportunity to try sailing in a safe and well-managed environment.
Three purpose-built trailers travel around the country to take sailing to the schools and come complete with all the boats, including a RIB, as well as wetsuits and lifejackets.
This year an O'pen Skiff has been added to each trailer, as well as some new sails, and a new trailer is operating in the bottom of the North Island thanks to the generous support of The Lion Foundation.
See here for more information on the Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! programme, including details on how to register your school.
Contact Colin Rickett on colin@yachtingnz.org.nz or (09) 361 4028.
