Issue date
In our regular focus on the regions, the four regional support officers look at what has been happening in their areas.
Communicating with regatta entrants around Covid-19
We saw recently with the change in alert levels around the country the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and the effect this has on the ability of clubs to run activities, including regattas.
This prompted us to come up with a Covid-19 template that clubs can use to communicate to regatta entrants what decisions are likely to made should a Covid-19 alert level change affect the ability of competitors to attend a regatta.
This information can shared or sent to entrants as an additional document (potentially with other club-specific information relevant for entrants), alongside the notice of race and sailing instructions.
The feedback around event decisions affected in the recent Covid-19 level changes across the country was that early and clear communication to entrants was really important.
You can find the template in the document below.
Women's Boat Skills Training a Huge Success
As many as 25 women turned up for the first women's boat skills training session held at the Waikawa Boating Club recently and there's already a growing list of those keen for the next session.
The three-hour session run by Nicky Jenkins and Flic covered plenty of territory from the basics through to discussions about what concerns many of the participants the most when out on the water.
"The key message is communicate, communicate, communicate," Jenkins said. "Plan before you go, ask questions, talk while you're out there and discuss how it went when you get back."
Both Jenkins and Flic are experienced boaties but admitted to their own struggles. They also explained how they learn something new every time they go on the water.
Future sessions will focus on basic radio skills, handling ropes, using dinghies, rules of the road at sea, knots and much more.
NZ Masters Games
The Wanganui Sailing Club hosted this year's sailing event at the Masters Games over three days, with Lasers, Aero, Paper Tigers and trailer yachts among the 27 boats competing.
It’s great to see that sailing is part of the huge event that is the NZ Masters Games which rotates between Whanganui and Dunedin each year.
Muritai Junior Regatta
A great fleet of 74 boats turnout for the Muritai Junior Regatta and they were rewarded with some light winds for a change this summer.
Support from a number of Wellington clubs contributed to make this a great event, as well as the support from the main sponsor Burnsco.
The photo above show the team from the Worser Bay Boating Club venturing across the harbour.
Wellington Centreboard Regatta
This event was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 so organisers at the Worser Bay Boating Club are expecting a bumper fleet from various clubs across the Wellington region for the event on March 27-28.
The event incorporates the Wellington Junior and Youth Championships, the Worser Bay Boating Club Annual Regatta, southern traveller series for Starlings and 2021 Wellington Laser Championships and is open to all centreboard classes.
You can find the notice of race and entry details here.
An evening with Sebastien Destremau
Photo: Chris Skelton / Stuff
Sebastien Destremau should be finishing the Vendee Globe about now but will instead head to the Timaru Yacht & Power Boat Club tonight at 7.30pm to tell his story.
The French sailor was competing in his second Vendee Globe, the non-stop, solo yacht race around the world, when he found himself an unexpected visitor to New Zealand recently when his boat suffered technical difficulties.
He was plagued with technical setbacks throughout his 69 days at sea and finally succumbed when his steering system collapsed.
Destremau, who was met by 150,000 fans when he completed the Vendee Globe in 2017, made a significant impact on this edition with his choice of building materials.
Wanting to highlight the environmental impact of boatbuilding, Destremau opted for volcanic fibre over carbon fibre and made a canopy out of cardboard just to prove it could be done.
An evening with Sebastien Destremau
Timaru Yacht & Power Boat Club, 1 North Mole (end of Marine Parade)
Entry: $5 adults, gold coin for students
Bar: Cash bar open from 6.45pm
RSVP: Email moncj@outlook.com
You can read more about Sebastien's story here.
Port Nicholson Regatta a stunning success
Great weather, stunning sailing and great hospitality meant the 2021 Port Nicholson Regatta held recently was an overwhelming success. It opened with the Lawson's Dry Hills Charity Cup Race before more than 150 sailors from 14 clubs across New Zealand on 28 boats contested in the three divisions over three days of racing.
Sports boats enjoyed fantastic sailing on Saturday before conditions became too strong on Sunday. Impeccable race management led by John and Linda Parrish was ably supported by numerous support crew and assistants.
The 2021 Port Nicholson Regatta champion was Airship, skippered by Dave Roberts. With other trophy winners being awarded to Blink, Nedax Racing, Airship, Wise Guy, 88% Proof, Saucy Sausage, and Daisy Duke.
Full results are available at www.portnicholsonregatta.org.nz.
Organisers acknowledge the generous support of sponsors: Lawson's Dry Hills, Crombie Lockwood, RealESmart, Yamaha, Burnsco, Mt Gay Rum, Havana Coffee, Waitoa Social Club, North Sails, 41 Latitude South, Pivotal Print, Lola Stays, Barton Marine, Kiwi Yachting, McMorran Boat Building and Chaffers Marina.
Southland championships
The Wakatipu Yacht Club will host next weekend's Southland dinghy and trailer yacht championships.
The event, which will run over the weekend of March 6-7, is open to all trailer yachts of an approved design by the New Zealand Trailer Yacht Association and any dinghy approved by Yachting New Zealand.
The Wakatipu Yacht Club intend showing the racing from the America's Cup on a big screen at the club and there will also be a BBQ after each day of racing ($10 per person each day) with a selection of meats, salads and breads.
See here for more information.
Saddle Island Race
Gulf Harbour Yacht Club joined up with the Manly Sailing Club for the annual Saddle Island Race recently, offering both young and novice sailors a new experience on a keelboat.
While a flotilla of dinghies set sail from Manly beach, the keelboats sailed ‘round the outside’ of the peninsula from Gulf Harbour Marina to meet and share experiences in Sullivan’s Bay.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this annual event another successful day for the local community.
Keelboats results:
1st online and handicap: Enigma 1
2nd on handicap: Nakoni
3rd on handicap: Mayflower
Upcoming events
February
Feb 26th: Interschools Regatta, Wakatere Boating Club
Feb 25-28: O'pen Skiff national championships, Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
Feb 27-28: J14 and 3.7 nationals, Taipa Sailing Club
March
Mar 5-7: Harken Secondary Schools Keelboat Championships, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Mar 5-7: Hartley 16 National Championships, Napier Sailing Club
Mar 5-7: Flying Fifteen National Championships, Napier Sailing Club
mar 5-7: Noelex 25 National Championships, Napier Sailing Club
Mar 6-8: Lower North Island Teams Sailing, Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club
Mar 12-14: Tornado National Championships, Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
Mar 12-14: Hansa National Championships, Lake Taupo Yacht Club
Mar 13-14: Wanganui Regatta, Wanganui Sailing Club
Mar 13-14: 420 South Island championships, Naval Point Club Lyttelton
Mar 20: Lipton Cup, Ponsonby Cruising Club
Mar 20-21 Windfoil Racing Series Event 4, Maraetai Sailing Club
Mar 20-21: Oyster Regatta, Bluff Yacht Club
Mar 20: Predictwind Girls Champs, Kohimarama Yacht Club
Mar 21-23: Lower South Island Teams Sailing, Timaru
Mar 25-27: Upper South Island Teams Sailing, Nelson Yacht Club
Mar 25-28: Foil Bay of Islands, Bay of Islands Sailing Club
Mar 26-28: City of Sails Auckland Regatta, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Mar 26-28: Farmer Autovillage Auckland to Tauranga Centennial Yacht Race, Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club
Mar 27-28: 24-Hour Endurance Race, Lowry Bay Yacht Club
Don't forget, you can update the Yachting New Zealand regatta calendar here so people can start planning now.
