Issue date
The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also highlight the importance of being on top of club funding.
Clubs are facing many challenges right now, with Covid-19 high on the list, which makes it doubly important that constant attention is given to funding.
In fact, funding should a regular item on a club's meeting agenda and a structured plan put in place to achieve a club's goals, whether it's for a new RIB, some RS Quests for adult learn to sail or wages for a coaching programme.
Your Yachting New Zealand regional development manager has a good understanding of funding issues and is happy to help in several ways, such as:
- Guidance around funding strategies, what organisations to approach and key points funders are looking for.
- Information on club structures to best align with funder's strategies
- Contacts with third parties who might be able to assist with applications
- Advice on programmes from other parts of the country that were successful with funders
- Letters of support from Yachting New Zealand as the sport's national sporting organisation
A letter of support from Yachting New Zealand adds considerable weight to a funding application, often giving comfort to a funding agency that the club are following NSO guidelines and programmes. This is even more significant today, with a smaller pool of funds available.
Please contact your local RDM for more information or take a look at some more tips here.
Southern Snippets
Covid-19 has seen the postponement or cancellation of various events in the South Island, from the Donald Hay Regatta to the Bluff Oyster Regatta and Open Skiff nationals to the Interislander Regatta, but it has resulted in a positive impact on club and regional racing.
Regional events that are smaller than nationally-focused ones allow for competitors to work together to train and race.
Planning is under way in many areas for regionally-based team sailing and it's hoped it can be developed in a similar way to the Southern Laser Traveller Series.
The south has also seen a big surge in adult learn to sail enquiries, prompting some clubs to consider what they offer for these sailors. Many of these participants are potential members who could become key individuals around a club.
Route 66
Next month's Marsden Cove Marina Route 66 event offers a variety of ways for keelboat, multihull and single-handed sailors to take part.
The event, which is a collaboration between the Richmond, Onerahi and Gulf Harbour Yacht Clubs, starts on March 4 and sees competitors sail from Auckland to Marsden Cove, Whangarei.
The event provides a great introduction to coastal racing, as the safety requirements are Cat 4+ and the fleet stays within the barrier islands. With starts from both Westhaven and Gulf Harbour, and open keeler, multihull and single-handed divisions, there's a variety of ways to take part.
The single-handed event incorporates the Excel Refrigeration Gulf Triangle Singlehanded Challenge, which sees competitors race from Westhaven to Marsden Cove on March 4, then to Great Barrier Island on the 5th before returning to Westhaven on March 6.
See here for more information, and to enter.
Sailability Otago
The newly-formed Sailability Otago had an exciting day recently when a number of volunteers with for a trial sail.
The exercise was an overwhelming success, especially as the weather played ball, as participants swapped in and out of the Hansa boats and safety boat. It was especially rewarding after countless hours spent meeting and planning the establishment of Sailability Otago.
The first ever sailing day will be held on March 5, and it's expected numbers will grow steadily from there.
Sailability Otago appreciate the support from the Hansa class association, the loan of the two boats and the transportation from Auckland to Dunedin from MOVE.
Devonport Yacht Club
Photo: Shaun Lee
Renowned designer, photographer and illustrator will speak at the Devonport Yacht Club on February 24 (7.30pm) on the state of the Hauraki Gulf as part of the club's regular speaker series.
Lee will talk about his work to to bring attention to the state of the Hauraki Gulf as well as the many projects he's involved in, including marine protection, mussel reef restoration and making decoys.
He's previously worked for Predator Free 2050, one of the world's biggest restoration projects, and as a volunteer helped build New Zealand's only large-scale, active marine restoration initiative (Revive Our Gulf).
The talk is open to fully vaccinated individuals.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
A fantastic turnout of over 70 boats took to the start line of the Doyle Sails Wednesday Night series last week, as the fleet enjoyed some champagne sailing.
A consistent 12-13 knot south-westerly was a welcome change after Cyclone Dovi played havoc with the 36 Degrees Brokers Commodore’s Cup races on the weekend before.
There were a number of close and entertaining contests as boats from the nine different divisions jostled for position on the downwind sprint to exit the Waitemata Harbour. Many were also met by kitefoilers as they exited the harbour and then enjoyed a hot Auckland evening as they sailed home.
Full results here
The Squadron are also gearing up for the 2022 CBRE City of Sails Auckland Regatta on March 12-13, which is being run in conjunction with the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club.
The event incorporates the New Zealand PHRF National Championships, New Zealand Sports Boat National Championships and New Zealand Multihull National Championships.
See here for more information and here for last year's event video.
New Plymouth Yacht Club - part I
The Taranaki primary, intermediate and secondary schools regatta was hosted by the New Plymouth Yacht Club last week, with great conditions and plenty of sailors taking part.
The fleets of Optis, Starlings, 420s, Lasers and Paper Tigers all staged three races within the harbour under the watch of one of the club's new race officers, Sacha McGregor.
Tutukaka Coast Youth Sailing
After 18 months of intensive planning and fundraising, Tutukaka Coast Youth Sailing are looking like a well-functioning club with regular race training, well-attended learn to sail courses and fun destination sailing - along with pontoon bombing!
Recent additions to the fleet include a new RS Feva, repowering of the existing safety boat and a new mid-sized RIB, which Yachting New Zealand RDM Hayden Whitburn checked out recently.
There’s been fantastic support from funders, supporters and suppliers alike, including Tutukaka Marina, Tutukaka South Pacific Yacht Club, Whangarei Marina, Whangarei District Council, Lotteries Commission, NZ Sailcraft, Honda NZ & Dargaville Honda and Southern Pacific.
With a thriving mix of new and existing sailors, and a desire to actively engage with Yachting New Zealand's Clean Club programme, the club are now well positioned.
Waitara Boating Club
The Waitara Boating Club hosted their annual regatta last weekend with good fleets of Optis, Lasers, Farr 3.7s, OK Dinghies and Hansa 303s.
The wind direction of the first day, blowing straight up the river, was perfect but Sunday presented more challenging conditions with with patchy winds from many directions.
The Waitara club have a building fleet of Farr 3.7s, as a few sailors have returned to the area and got back into sailing again.
It was the first regatta for many Opti sailors and, while the Sunday proved tricky, they all enjoyed the experience.
South Island Age Group Regatta
The South Island Age Group Regatta has been part of the Opti calendar since 1976 and that tradition continued recently at the Charteris Bay Yacht Club.
The regatta was one of the first to take place after the Optimist arrived in New Zealand and took up residence in Charteris Bay, thanks to the foresight of Paul Pritchett, a local resident and keen sailor.
The 2022 event saw a smaller field than normal due to Covid 19, however, sailors from around the different clubs in Canterbury still took up the challenge. And what a challenge it was, with light and shifty conditions on day one and driving rain and strong southerly winds on day two. Despite this, five of the six scheduled races were completed.
Prizes were awarded to the various place getters in each age groups competing in both green and open fleets rather than the overall results.
It was also a training regatta, where the back third of the fleet could be ‘coached’ around the course.
A big thank you to C Lund and Son for their continuing support of this regatta.
Muritai Yacht Club
The Muritai Yacht Club Junior Regatta enjoyed a great day recently and was well supported with 70 boats even though the conditions were wet and the wind on the light side.
A big thanks to Burnsco for the prizes and to Annette Sliper Real Estate for the great burgers for lunch, which the kids and a fair number of adults really enjoyed. Everyone who attended couldn't have such a great regatta without you.
New Plymouth Yacht Club - part II
The New Plymouth Yacht Club held their annual club regatta recently, but it wasn’t Covid that kept people away.
The tail end of Cyclone Dovi knocked off the second days' racing, with a south-east change and huge waves forcing the closure of the port.
Three races were possible on the first day, although it was a little bumpy and very wet to start with.
Three classes held their North Island championships as part of the regatta, with Jason Holdt and Todd Birrell taking out the Hartley 16s, Carl Purdie winning the Finn and Derek Scott finishing on top of the Paper Tigers.
