Issue date
Our four NZCT regional development managers bring you the latest news from around the country - including the latest opportunities to upskill ahead of the start of the new season.
The Learn to Sail (Dinghy) course is the first step to a career in coaching.
New addition to coaching course calendar
Aspiring sailing coaches in Auckland take note - an extra Learn to Sail (dinghy) coaching course has been added to the calendar by popular demand.
Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club will now host a course on September 23 and 24 - the perfect opportunity for those who may have missed out on this weekend's course at Howick Sailing Club.
Click here to register.
The entry-level Learn to Sail coaching course is ideal for those aged 14 and older and follows similar courses already held across the country.
Other course dates and locations are:
- September 9-10: Howick Sailing Club
- September 16-17: Hamilton Yacht Club
- October 6-8: Macandrew Bay Boating Club
- November 3-5: Wanaka Yacht Club
“Whether you are a young sailor looking to give back, a parent eager to learn more, or coordinating the Learn to Sail program at your club, this course is designed to get you started on your coaching journey,” said Yachting New Zealand’s coach development manager Kirsten Moratz.
“With flexible weekend sessions and online modules, it's easy to fit the course into your schedule.”
Anyone wanting to take the course must:
- Complete the Coaching Yachting 101 online modules.
- Complete the Child Safeguarding modules (through the Sport New Zealand catalogue)
- Have intermediate sailing ability.
- Be confident in and around the water.
- Be at least 14 years of age.
To sign up for a Yachting New Zealand Learn to Sail (dinghy) coach course, follow these easy steps:
- Go to sporttutor.nz/yachtingnz and create an account by clicking “Sign Up”. It’s important this is done with your young coach’s email address so they have their own learning account and journey set up.
- Go to the Yachting NZ Course Catalogue, and complete Coaching Yachting 101. It should take no more than an hour or two to complete.
- Sign up for the specific course in your region, you can search the club name in the search bar of the course catalogue to find it.
Mark-laying course at Takapuna Boating Club
Takapuna Boating Club will host the first in a two-part mark-laying course ahead of the start of the new season next Sunday (September 17) from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
The first part is an in-classroom course and will include information on mark laying using Buoyzone, laying marks and gates.
The second part of the course is the Yachting New Zealand club safety boat operator session which will be held on a yet-to-be-determined Saturday in October, from 8.30am to 4.30pm. This will be an on-water session.
For more information please email commodore.plsc@gmail.com and to sign up, email members@takapunaboating.org.nz.
Pleasant Point Yacht Club last month hosted the second Yachting New Zealand's race officer seminar.
Race officers flock to Pleasant Point
People from as far as Waikawa, Nelson, Dunedin and Queenstown attended Yachting New Zealand's race management seminar at Pleasant Point Yacht Club last month.
It was the second of Yachting New Zealand's two training seminars and followed the successful event at Gulf Harbour Yacht Club in Auckland on July 22-23.
A total of 17 race officers, including several from Christchurch yacht clubs, attended the two-day seminar aimed at enhancing skills and knowledge in race management.
The events cater to both national race officers seeking qualification renewal and club race officers aspiring to become national race officers in the upcoming season or in the future.
Race officials can now access a copy of their Yachting New Zealand website entries by simply sending an email.
Accessing your race official logbook entries
Race officials can now get a copy of all entries made to the Yachting New Zealand online logbook for events.
To do this, simply:
- Send an email to services@yachtingnz.org.nz from the same email address used when logging into the Yachting New Zealand website. It must also be the same email address used when the log entries were created.
- Enter Race Officer Event Log (in the exact format shown) in the subject line of the email.
The system will then return an email with a CSV file of your full event log.
Each Yachting New Zealand race official is requested to complete a log entry after they serve as a race official at an event. Completed forms are held on file by Yachting New Zealand, allowing the race officials committee and each race official to keep a log of the events they do.
This can also be used by Yachting New Zealand to consider applications for certification or renewal applications, providing less paperwork for the applicants and is in line with the procedure World Sailing follow for international race officials.
For any questions, please contact Colin Rickett at colin@yachtingnz.org.nz.
Emirates Team New Zealand will attempt to defend the America's Cup in Barcelona next year. Photo / Sailing Energy
Join RNZYS in support of ETNZ
The opening salvo of the 37th America's Cup starts in just over a week, and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron wants Kiwis to join them in supporting Emirates Team New Zealand in their defence of the Auld Mug - at home and in Barcelona.
The Preliminary Regatta in Vilanova i La Geltrú runs from 14-17 September (local time), followed by a second regatta in early December. Both regattas will be raced in the one-design AC40s – considered the world’s newest and most exciting foiling class.
The RNZYS will be open between 1 am and 4am every race day for members and guests to watch the racing live from September 15 to 18 (NZ time).
The club is also offering members and other yachties the chance to join them in Barcelona for next year's main event and has appointed BCD Sports Travel as their exclusive and official travel partner.
Looking forward to 2024, the final preliminary regatta in Barcelona will see all the America’s Cup teams racing in their new AC75s for the first time before the real action begins with the Challenger Series in September, the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup events and the America’s Cup.
The America’s Cup Match is set to start on October 12, 2024.
Non-members can click here for more information on the AC37 event package options and to book. Hotel rooms and function spaces are strictly limited.
RNZYS members are required to visit the RNZYS website to book their travel. Members will have access to unique experiences and special offers that are not available as part of the wider offering. For more information, email the RNZYS team at ac37@rnzys.org.nz.
Teams concentrating hard during quiz night.
Pleasant Point marks start of season with social quiz
Pleasant Point Yacht Club celebrated the arrival of opening day with their first social quiz night, hosted by the club's new social team. The quiz theme was "water" and included categories like music, general knowledge, geography and "blast from the past" as well as spot prizes including life jackets and dry bags.
With the new season officially starting this weekend, members can look forward to a mix of serious racing as well as casual sailing on any other weekend, plus a full complement of learn-to-sail courses.
Pleasant Point Yacht Club will be hosting the Sunburst South Island championships and the Firebug South Island championships later in the season.
Slam Dunk could be a threat in Opua.
All eyes on Shapeshifter as Elliotts return to action
The Harken Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series promises to have another decent turnout when it resumes at Opua this weekend.
As many as 14 boats are expected on the start line on Saturday, including local entries Usain Boat, Ice Breaker and Frivolous Fish.
In the absence of R+R, all eyes will be on the ever-consistent Shapeshifter - who has a solid lead at the top of the table with two regattas remaining in the series.
Reggae Shark and Revelry are in second and third respectively.
Slam Dunk could also be a threat.
For more information and to follow the results, click here or here.
The Big Kahoona crew during racing in the combined club winter series. Photo / Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
Two to go in combined winter series
Also nearing its conclusion is the Weiti Boating Club and Gulf Harbour Yacht Club combined winter series.
Bodicea II will be hoping to repeat the double of line honours and a first on handicap in the white fleet from the last race (on August 27) when it lines up again this Sunday.
With only two races left and no discards allowed due to cancelled races, all boats will need to be at their best.
Full results here.
Meanwhile, John and Linda Parrish (Toyshop) claimed the overall victory in GHYC's winter series by three points from Planet X.
Full results here.
Taipa Sailing Club gets spring in the step
Taipa Sailing Club is saying goodbye to winter with their annual spring regatta on Saturday (September 9).
The event is open to all centreboard classes and registration starts at 9am.
Entry is $20 per boat, with four races planned from 12pm.
For more information contact Roger Hall on 0275251891 or email taipasailingclub@gmail.com.
The Southland Boat Show had its biggest turnout in 30 years.
Bluff wins big from Southland Boat Show
Thousands attended the biennial Southland Boat Show in Invercargill last month - the biggest turnout in the event's 30-year history.
Organised by the Southland Trailer Yacht Squadron and held at ILT Stadium Southland, this year's event was convened by volunteers Doug Riley and Peter Henderson.
Approximately 8,000 people attended across the two days of the show, which featured displays from several yacht clubs, Maritime New Zealand, boat manufacturers and fish smokers.
Profits from the show are used to help the local community with Bluff Yacht Club this year's big winner - purchasing a new RS Feva yacht.
This year's Southland Boat Show was convened by Peter Henderson (left) and Doug Riley.
