Issue date
In our regular focus on the regions, the four Yachting New Zealand regional support officers take a look at what has been happening in their areas.
Pathway presentation
It might not have been possible to go racing on day three of the Optimist national championships at the Worser Bay Boating Club recently, as up to 50 knots raged outside, but it presented the perfect opportunity for Yachting New Zealand's Rosie Chapman and Sam Mackay to present a sailing pathway seminar to the sailors and parents.
It was well attended and covered the many and varied opportunities available to young sailors in the sport and wider industry.
One interesting question Rosie put to the sailors was: “how many of you play another sport as well as sailing?” As many as 80 percent of the children answered in the affirmative, which was great to see because it illustrated there is some balance within the group.
Various Yachting New Zealand staff will deliver the pathway presentation at events around the country so look out for one near you.
Nelson Yacht Club
The Nelson Yacht Club have just caught breath after hosting a successful Starling national championships but have plenty of other events to look forward to this season.
They're hosting the Nelson and Marlborough regional championships on December 12-13, which also include the Europe South Island championships, as well as the Whakatu Regatta on January 16-17, which include the Europe nationals, Flying Dutchman South Islands and 29er South Islands. They're also expecting a strong Laser fleet with many treating it as a pre-nationals regatta on the way to Wellington.
It doesn't stop there, because the club will then be hosting the Kite Foil national championships over Waitangi weekend.
The Nelson Yacht Club will soon welcome three new RS Fevas, thanks to The Pub Charity Ltd, The Lion Foundation and a bequest from Peter Milne.
Double Trouble Regatta
Photo and main photo: Jackie Dagger.
Despite a Covid-interrupted year, the second annual running of this multihull event was even bigger and brighter than the inaugural event sailed in 2019.
Competitors travelled from as far afield as Picton, Kerikeri, Christchurch, Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua to experience the warm hospitality and superb organisation from commodore Jonathan Kline and his formidable team of volunteers from the Mercury Bay Boating Club.
Entries consisted of 14 A class boats, 15 Hobie 16s and six Tornado catamarans battling for honours last weekend on Buffalo Bay off Whitianga, in the beautiful Coromandel region.
Last year's inaugural Double Trouble regatta attracted 13 boats so the 35 boats this year showed the increasing popularity of the event.
Lovely summer weather conditions prevailed over the weekend with four races on the Saturday in very shifty and variable conditions, keeping all competitors on their toes (or in some cases in the water) with a further two races sailed on Sunday morning in pleasant 5-10 knot W-SW winds.
All competitors agreed that the regatta and atmosphere over the weekend was superb, and they all expressed their interest in returning in 2021 and maybe even sooner if Mercury Bay decide to host another regatta for their class.
Results:
A Class (Classic)
1st: Tom Block (Bay of Islands Yacht Club)
2nd: Steve Ashley (Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand)
3rd: John Kennett (Naval Point Club Lyttelton)
A Class (Foiling)
1st: David Haylock (Wakatere Boating Club)
2nd: Ed Crook (WBC)
3rd: Ben Davy (Rotorua Yacht Club)
Hobie 16
1st: Zane Blomfield (Manly Sailing Club)
2nd: Jonathan Kline (Mercury Bay Boating Club)
3rd: Nathan Rhodes-Hasler (MSC)
Tornado
1st: Jason Marra (Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club)
2nd: Winston Ordish-Benner (TYPBC)
3rd: Dennis Webster (TYPBC)
See more regatta photos here
Ngaroto Sailing Club
The Ngaroto Sailing Club have had a busy start to their season hosting the Hansa 303 North Island championships last month, the Trailer Yacht Sprints in early November and last weekend the Paper Tigers and Wetas.
Derek Scott had a great regatta in the Paper Tiger class, with only a second place in race five blemishing a perfect score. Hayden Percy was second followed by Scott Peterson.
2020 Marine Industry Challenge
This annual Marine Industry Challenge took place recently and saw some competitive racing in the MRX class as the teams fought for the Nick Saull Memorial Trophy.
The event is organised by the New Zealand Marine Industry Association each year and invites teams from any of their members to compete.
Saull owned Brin Wilson Boats in Gulf Harbour and was tragically killed at sea in 2016 on a delivery trip to Fiji. He was a regular participant in this event with his team from Brin Wilson Boats.
Auckland P Class Championships
It claims to be Auckland’s friendliest yacht club and French Bay Yacht Club certainly did a stellar job of hosting the P-Class Auckland championships last weekend.
While French Bay (which nearly doubled their membership in the last sailing season) have only two P-Class sailors at the club, they took on the mission of hosting the regatta, headed by Cameron Grey and Glen Schussler. About a dozen others, including young volunteers from the club’s youth fleet and race officer Dave West, joined them.
As many as 20 P-Class sailors took part, with Joe Leith from the Murrays Bay Sailing Club getting to grips with the west coast sailing and tidal Manukau Harbour to take out the title. He finished ahead of the Kohimarama Yacht Club pair of Sean Kensington and Fred Burrage.
Parents enjoyed watching in the sun from the club’s outdoor deck and enjoyed good, old fashioned club hospitality during racing.
Upcoming events
There are plenty of events going on around the country, particularly due to the interruptions caused by Covid-19, and here's a sample of things happening in the top half of the North Island:
Northland
- Onerahi Yacht Club fundraiser - November 20 (6pm). OYC and the NZ Sailing Trust present a limited screening of One Outstanding, a documentary about the fierce battle between Steinlager II and Fisher & Paykel in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race. See here for more information.
- Taipa Sailing Club - Far North Championships - November 21-22. See here for more.
- Whangarei Cruising Club Northland Centreboard Training Regatta - November 28-29
Auckland Region:
- Optimist Team Cup - Lake Pupuke (hosted by the Murrays Bay Sailing Club) - November 21-22
- Harken Young 88 nationals - RNZYS - November 21-22
- Bucklands Beach Yacht Club fundraiser - November 21 (7pm)
- Akarana 350 - Royal Akarana Yacht Club - November 27
- NZ Womens National Keelboat Championships - RNZYS - November 28-29
- Devonport Yacht Club fundraiser - December 3 (7pm). DYC and the NZ Sailing Trust present a limited screening of One Outstanding, a documentary about the fierce battle between Steinlager II and Fisher & Paykel in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race, created by filmmaker Larry Keating, who will be joining us on the evening. Tickets are $15 per person from the DYC bar or email emmaaw@me.com. All funds going to the NZ Sailing Trust.
- Sir Peter Blake Regatta - Torbay Sailing Club - December 5-6
- 49er National Championships - Royal Akarana Yacht Club - December 4-6
- 99th Lipton Cup - Ponsonby Cruising Club - December 5
- RS Feva National Championships - Wakatere Boating Club - December 12-13
