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Bay Week

Regional Roundup - the northern region

Issue date

In the first of our Regional Roundups for the year, regional support officer Hayden Whitburn looks at what has been going on in the northern regions.


It’s been a very busy start to the year with a lot of national championships held recently and it's not really going to slow down with a lot of upcoming events.

I’ve been on the road and it’s been fantastic to meet so many great people who keep this sport going. A special thanks to all the volunteers because, without them, events don’t happen.

It's great to see an increase in the number of juniors sailing around the country, especially in the smaller regions. Our Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! team have had a very busy summer and since the end of term four last year we have done the following:

  • 7 days of holiday programmes in Auckland, combined with Canoe Racing NZ
  • 3 days for Sport North Harbour – Active Asian Community
  • 1 day of holiday programme for Saint James Sea Scouts in Wellington (2nd day cancelled due to weather)
  • 4 days of learn to sail support at Lake Brunner

18th CRC Bay of Islands Sailing Week

This year's event was the biggest ever with 141 entries and they were treated to some superb sailing weather, with an afternoon breeze keeping things interesting. The race committee made a wise decision to delay the start by one hour each day due to the wind and the sailors enjoyed the extra sleep-in after a fantastic beach party at Otehei Bay.

As many as 63 volunteers helped to make the regatta run smoothly and, most importantly, fun.

It was extra special this year to see so many youngsters taking part with their families in the Island Racing division and I'm sure these memories will last a lifetime.

It was also pleasing to see the sailors embracing the event's ambition to achieve clean regatta status by minimising their environmental impact and we look forward to seeing more regattas following suit.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and a special thanks to regatta chair Manuela Gmuer-Hornell who makes this event happen each year.

You can see the regatta wrap here and full results here

NZIODA Eastern Beach Opti Clinic 

The annual Opti camp at Eastern Beach is a highlight for many of these youngsters and this year 41 sailors from as far afield as Christchurch, Picton and Wellington attended.

Yachting New Zealand youth coordinator Sam Mackay, who will take the New Zealand team to the Optimist world championships in Italy, ran the week alongside a number of this country's top Opti coaches. 

Although the camp was intense, with boat-handling drills, speed, tactics and even pre-breakfast fitness sessions, there was also a fun aspect. On one day, everyone raced to Motutapu island for lunch and games before racing downwind back to Eastern Beach. It was great to see many new friendships formed during the camp.

A special thanks to Andrew Wills from North Sails who talked about sail science and tuning and also Yachting New Zealand talent development manager Geoff Woolley who explained some of the pathway options and Yachting New Zealand coach development manager Peter Soosalu who worked alongside some of the coaches.

Kerikeri Cruising Club 

The Northland O'pen Skiff and RS Feva Championships were held just before Christmas, with all races sailed in very light airs. It was impressive to see so many young sailors coming through and racing was very close throughout the fleet.

Kerikeri head coach Dave Ferris reported that the number of local junior sailors is on the rise and a special thanks must go to Mark Turner who has made equipment available to allow these youngsters the opportunity to go sailing when it might not have existed.

Full results

Open Skiff
Photo: Bruce Carter

Manly Sailing Club 

The big news out of Manly is that they will be hosting this year's RS Feva world championships. Exact dates haven't been confirmed, but it's likely to be in the Christmas-New Year period and vice commodore Harold Bennett expects as many as 150 boats.

It's added even more of a buzz to a club that's been rejuvenated in recent times.

The Russell Coutts Foundation ran a two-day programme during the summer holidays in preparation for the O'pen Skiff national championships and also held a have a go fun day when 35 sailors from the area tried various boats, including the O'pen Skiff, windsurfer, Laser and RS Feva.

Manly Sailing Club

The Manly Sailing Club also had 29 boats for their annual Boxing Day pole race. A few called it a day after a very slow start and then a big glassy patch near the first turning mark, but those who hung in there were rewarded with slightly more breeze on the sail back. Well done to commodore Barry Thom for coming through on his Weta.

This year the club will team up with the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club for the Saddle Island Trophy on Waitangi Day (9.30am), which will include a Mark Foy start.

The Russell Coutts Foundation are on the lookout for coaches so, if you're qualified and have experience, please contact Aaron on 022 026 5612

Marsden Cove Yacht and Boat Club 

Marsden Cove is a yacht club on the move. Last week they had 17 juniors in their sailing programme that I attended.

Commodore Alan Alcock commented: “The Yachting New Zealand Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! trailer has been put to good use in this area, giving juniors a chance to go sailing where they normally wouldn’t have the opportunity. We have definitely seen membership increase because of the have a go programme.

"One of the afternoon sessions was a bit windy so then Justin [the have a go instructor] took the children for turns on the Weta trimiran. The children came back with huge grins from ear to ear. Even the children who were a bit reluctant to start with had a ball. The week was a great success and a wonderful opportunity for children to have a taster of sailing."

Marsden Cove Yacht & Boat Club

Marsden Cove are running their annual Newey Transport Snake Bank Regatta on February 15.

The event comprises a paddle race in the morning, which is open to anything that can be paddled (paddleboard, kayak, surfboard, surf canoe etc), followed in the afternoon by a sailing race open to anything that can be sailed, from kiteboards and centreboard yachts to trailer yachts and keel boats. The emphasis is on having fun and is open to all ages.

There are fabulous prizes up for grabs, the majority of which are distributed as spot prizes. 

In the spirit of having a fun-filled day, the winner in each category/class is not necessarily the first craft to cross the line but rather the one that is nearest to their nominated time to complete the course. 

See more here

Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club – Home of the historic P class 

Tauranga Cup

The 75th Tanner and Tauranga Cup regattas were held over the New Year period, when 34 young sailors lined up for a crack at some of the most prestigious silverware.

Tim Howse from Kohimarama Yacht Club achieved the double in the fresh conditions but was pushed hard by his Kohimarama clubmates Rowan and Sean Kensington.

Naiomi Ferrissey (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) won the prestigious Naimoi James trophy for first girl.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Starling match racing nationals

The 2020 New Zealand Starling Class Match Racing Championship were held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in conjunction with the Glendowie Boating Club.

Congratulations to Auckland's Nathan Vince who beat North Harbour's Ethan Fong 3-1 in an epic 'battle of the bridge' final, and to all other competitors in the regatta.

A big thanks to all the volunteers involved who put on a massive 90 races across the two days. Racing close to the harbour bridge provided fantastic viewing for the spectators.

Final standings

1 Nathan Vince - Auckland
2 Ethan Fong - North Harbour
3 Emily Overend - Marlborough
4 Naiomi Ferrissey - Wildcard
5 Robbie Wooldridge - Wildcard
6 William Beauchamp - Wildcard
7 Peter Eaglen - Wildcard
8 Kaspian Evatt - Canterbury
9 Alex Hebberd - Wildcard
10 Nicholas Drummond - Wildcard
11 Jack Parr -Taranaki
12 Fergus Baxter - Wellington

Maraetai Sailing Club

Auckland Championships

Some of the top spots at the Barfoot & Thompson Optimist, Starling, 29er and Paper Tiger Auckland championships at the Maraetai Sailing Club were decided on the last race on Monday.

It was particularly tight in the 29er, where Brayden Hamilton and Jack Frewin edged Josh Schon and Monty Alderson on countback; and Sean Kensington took out the Optimist open title by one point over Joe Leith.

Nathan Vince was a convincing winner in the Starling, Derek Scott won the Paper Tiger, Jessica Handley took out the Optimist white fleet and Nicholas Wong won the Optimist green fleet.

Congratulations to Maraetai for putting on such a successful regatta and we look forward to returning there next year for the Optimist national championships.

Full results

Ports of Auckland 180th Anniversary Day Regatta 

Auckland Anniversary Day regatta
Waitangi took out the classic Division A title. Photo: Peter Le Scelle.

It was another spectacular Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, when watercraft of all shapes and sizes from keelboats and classics to dinghies and windfoilers took to the waters across the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf under paddle, sail and steam power. 

It's known as the biggest one-day regatta in the world and is one of the oldest sporting events on our country's calendar, predating the America's Cup by 11 years.

Waitangi took out the classic boats Division A title.

Upcoming events

There are plenty of events coming up in the region so check out the calendar on the Yachting New Zealand website to see what tickles your fancy.

There's a swathe of national championships and junior regattas to traveller series and the popular foiling week in the Bay of Islands.

See you there.