Issue date
Our four NZCT regional development managers bring you news from across the country, including a plea from organisers of the much-loved Bay of Islands Sailing Week.
Entries for the 2024 Bay of Islands Sailing Week are now open. Photo/ Lissa Photography
BOISW premier racing divisions 'risk collapse'
The premier windward-leeward racing divisions at Bay of Islands Sailing Week are at risk of collapse unless they see more support from entrants soon, organisers said.
While overall entry numbers are at normal levels with 50 entries to date, seven weeks out from the regatta, there is a concerning lack of entries in the top windward leeward divisions.
The annual event, dubbed New Zealand’s best big boat regatta by legendary sailing commentator PJ Montgomery, offers two types of racing to competitors - entrants can choose from ‘Open Racing’ for a mix of windward-leeward racing plus a passage race each day, or ‘Island Racing’ to sail a single longer passage race around the islands each day.
In the past, the event has seen good support for windward-leeward racing, with around half the fleet typically opting for the intense competition of these divisions, while the remainder choose more relaxed cruising races.
This year, however, the event’s premier A, B and C divisions have seen flagging numbers, while the Island Racing fleets swell with names generally associated with the more serious side of yacht racing. With only two entries currently in A Division – TP52s Mayhem and Wired – and one each in B Division and C Division – Soto 40 Alegre and MG30 Sham Pain – organisers say these divisions simply won’t be viable unless they see more entries soon.
“We need to see numbers of at least four or five boats in each division,” event chairperson Ian Clouston said. “Without those numbers, there isn’t enough to justify us running those races. The windward leeward divisions are the most intensive on our resources because we run nine races for them over the course of the regatta, while Island Racing sail just three races in total.”
It’s a pattern that organisers say is occurring throughout yacht racing both at home and overseas, with touted reasons including the escalating costs of running serious racing campaigns, crew availability issues, and a preference for later starts and earlier finishes that allow more time for socialising.
Among the smaller boats, however, windward-leeward racing is still well supported. The Young 88 class fleet already numbers eight entries, and E Division which generally sees a lot of smaller boats from the local area is also expected to grow, with five entered so far.
“Bay of Islands Sailing Week is well known for offering top-class competition to our keelboat fleet, and that’s something we want to continue,” Clouston said. “We know a lot of people love the relaxed cruising race style of Island Racing, but we also don’t want to see the death of windward-leeward keelboat racing in New Zealand, and we really need the bigger keelboats to support it for that to happen.”
Bay of Islands Sailing Week begins on Tuesday 23 January 2024, followed by three days of racing from Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 January 2024.
To enter, click here.
Gulf Harbour Yacht Club's Women on Water Weekend is back after a successful first event in 2023. Photo: Live Sail Die
Call for entries for WOWW 2024
Following a successful inaugural event, entries are now open for the 2024 Women on Water Weekend, hosted by Gulf Harbour Yacht Club.
The regatta is designed to provide an opportunity for women of all ages to take part in an inclusive sailing activity regardless of prior experience or expertise and will take place on the weekend of March 15-17.
Organisers are expecting keen interest from across New Zealand and given the limited availability of spots, are recommending those who are interested secure their places early.
For all the event details, including the Notice of Race and the entry form, click here.
FastLane is the overall series leader after four of 10 races. Photo: Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
Hijinx aplenty in race 4 of Twilight Series
Hijinx took out line honours during race 4 of the Four Square Twilight Series last Wednesday, beating 12 other boats in ideal sailing conditions off Gulf Harbour.
Glory Days finished first on handicap, followed by Woodstock and C McGuire.
FastLane is the overall series leader with six races to go, with Toyshop in second and Glory Days third.
Click here for full results and standings.
RS Feva at Wakatere this Christmas
Wakatere Boating Club will be hosting a pre-Christmas RS Feva clinic for sailors looking to build on their existing skills in the racing dinghy class - and those keen to try the boat for the very first time.
The clinic will be held from December 18-20 and is open to members of WBC and non-members between the ages of 11 and 17.
Sailors must have completed at least a year of green fleet or open fleet in the Optimist or equivalent class to be eligible.
For more information, email Blythe Berry at wakatere.coaching@gmail.com.
Barbara Kendall (right) won the female wingfoil division with Amaya Holton and Matilde Agostini taking silver and bronze, respectively. Photo/ Wingfoil New Zealand
Family affair in Triple Crown Series
It was a mother-daughter double at the second event in the Triple Crown Series held at Maraetai Sailing Club on November 18 and 19, with Barbara Kendall and Aimee Bright claiming the women's wingfoil and windfoil titles, respectively.
Sean Herbert, who also won the first regatta at Manly Sailing Club, was again first overall in the wingfoil fleet after a close battle at the top with Lloyd Perratt and Jacob Pye. Nolan Couzyn took out the social division.
Bright dominated in the 8m windfoil category, winning seven of 10 races to finish comfortably ahead of Stella Bilger and Ben Rist.
Olympic campaigner Josh Armit was equally impressive in the men's division, holding off strong challenges from the Netherlands' Huig Jan Tak, Eli Liefting and Thomas Crook to take the gold.
The third regatta in the series takes place on January 20-21 at Wakatere Boating Club.
Full results here.
PIC Insurance Brokers are the new naming-rights sponsor of the 2024 Harbour Classic. Photo/ Supplied
Harbour Classic gets new naming sponsor
PIC Insurance Brokers have been confirmed as the new naming rights sponsor of the 2024 Harbour Classic.
Inspired by the legendary Barcolana Regatta in Italy, the Harbour Classic offers a twist on traditional races with all sailors converging on a single start line before embarking on a thrilling sprint around the harbour.
The 2024 PIC Harbour Classic, part of the Moana Auckland Festival, will also see a multitude of exciting events aimed at celebrating the maritime culture and bringing people and sailors together in an unforgettable experience.
Amanda Savill, chief executive of PIC Insurance Brokers, expressed her enthusiasm for the new venture into the Harbour Classic.
"We are thrilled to support the PIC Harbour Classic and extend our long-standing and successful partnership with the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club,” Savill said.
"This event has incredible potential for growth, and we are excited to be part of this journey. The ocean is part of who we are as New Zealanders and PIC is proud to be the insurance broker of choice for the New Zealand sailing community.”
Adrian Percival, Commodore of the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club, organisers of the event also shared his excitement about the new partnership.
“We are immensely grateful for PIC Insurance Broker’s support and their enthusiastic embrace of the Harbour Classic. Their involvement in this event resonates with our mission to foster a vibrant, inclusive sailing community as well as bring Aucklanders and visitors together to enjoy our amazing harbour - the city of sails. We’re looking forward to delivering a fantastic event with PIC by our side.”
The PIC Harbour Classic sets sail over the weekend of Friday, March 8 with a welcome party, followed by racing and prizegiving on March 9.
Keelboat nationals return to RAYC
The New Zealand national keelboat championships will next year return to Royal Akarana Yacht Club and the fleet it was first contested in, with the women’s keelboat championship also incorporated into the event.
First held in 1992 in the then brand new Farr MRX fleet, the national keelboat championship evolved from the 'Champion of Champions' regatta held in Noelex 25s between the national champions of various classes.
Previous winners include Rod Davis, Russell Coutts, Dean Barker, Ray Davies, Phil Robertson and four-time winner Grant Turnbull.
The event moved to be hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for several years while RAYC’s clubhouse was demolished and the Hyundai Marine Sports Centre built.
It will return to RAYC from April 11-14 and will again be sailed in the one-design Farr MRXs with the women's keelboat championship title awarded to the first all-female crew.
Helly Hansen is the new naming rights sponsor for April's Three Kings Offshore Race. Photo/ Ivor Wilkins
Helly Hansen backs Three Kings race
With four months until the race starts, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is thrilled to announce Helly Hansen as naming rights sponsor for the Helly Hansen Three Kings Offshore Race, set to be sailed on April 11, 2024.
The 500 nm race starts and finishes in Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour with a course that takes competitors northwest of Cape Reinga around Three Kings Islands, featuring two 90km open water crossings where the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean meet.
It’s a legendary adventure race last sailed in 2022, and this next edition also serves as a qualifier for the Auckland to Noumea Offshore race scheduled for May 2024.
“We’re delighted with the support this special event has received to date, and to have Helly Hansen’s backing as they begin to enter the NZ market,” said RNZYS Vice Commodore Gillian Williams.
“The continued support by so many of our partners enables us to deliver world-class events, and this year we are also fortunate to offer some extraordinary prizes too”.
To enter, click here.
Conditions were tricky at the 2023 Napier Sailing Club Summer Regatta. Photo / Live Sail Die
Local sailors shine at stormy Summer Regatta
Local sailors gave a good account of themselves at the 2023 Napier Sailing Club Summer Regatta, winning in five of the 11 fleets sailed in challenging conditions.
More than 100 sailors lined up in seven classes for the event on November 25-26, which also incorporated the 2023 ILCA North Island championships and the 2024 OK and Europe Dinghy national championships.
Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club's Lukas Johnson took out the ILCA 4.7, with George Pilkington (RNZYS) and Dylan Forsyth (Waiheke Boating Club) crowned North Island champions in the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 competitions, respectively.
Steve McDowell (Worser Bay Boating Club) was as impressive as ever, winning six of eight races in the OK Dinghy, while Antje Muller (Opua Cruising Club) was flawless in the Europe - not dropping a single of her nine races.
NSC's Hayden Percy finished first overall in the Paper Tigers fleet, with Max Jameson (O'pen Skiff silver fleet), Ekhi de Jager (Optimist open fleet), Frankie Barker (Optimist green fleet), and Jed Podbury (Starling) the other local sailors to triumph.
Honours in the O'pen Skiff gold fleet went to Elena Keall-Neches from Paremata Boating Club.
Full results available here.
Wairoa Yacht Club recently delivered the Kōkōkaha module of Yachting New Zealand's RŪNĀ programme to a local school.
Another setback for storm-hit club
Wairoa Yacht Club has again been affected by flooding and they have now decided to cancel their regatta planned for this weekend (December 9-10).
It comes as a blow for the club which had just completed the clean-up after the devastation left by Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this year.
They were, however, able to run a day with a local school, delivering the Kōkōkaha module of Yachting New Zealand's RŪNĀ education programme.
Kōkōkaha is one of three successful RŪNĀ modules and focuses on designing sustainable energy solutions.
Elsewhere, Waitara Boating Club got their Kōkōkaha sailing experience day away catering for 30 kids from the local St Joseph's School. Conditions could not have been better for the group with a nice breeze and not much current in the river, with some Sport Taranaki staff also in attendance.
For more information on the RŪNĀ programme, click here.
Ton-up for Paremata
Paremata Boating Club held their 100-year centenary dinner last weekend with a great gathering of past and present sailors.
This also acted as a fundraiser for the club with raffles and auctions held. The highlight of the evening was a talk by Murray Jones and Glenn Sowry, who are both former members of the club and who learnt their P Class sailing there.
Titahi Bay Boating Club will host a three-day Optisail camp next month.
Wellington Optisail: Excitement building
Wellington Optisail is as popular as ever with registrations streaming in for the three-day live-in sailing camp to be held at the Titahi Bay Boating Club on January 23-25.
This has always been targeted as a confidence-building camp with the aim of learning while having lots of fun with most of the sailors having recently completed their club Learn to Sail programmes.
For more information, click here.
Waikawa Boating Club have made changes to the New Year Regatta format.
150+ expected at 'new' New Year Regatta
After another successful edition of the Women’s Regatta in September, the Waikawa Boating Club team looks forward to staging their flagship event, the New Year Regatta.
Set down for January 12-14, the event traditionally attracts a strong fleet across the racing divisions for buoy and harbour races depending on conditions. A separate division is provided for non-spinnaker race yachts in the cruising division.
After the 2023 New Year Regatta was cancelled due to weather factors this year's event has had a change of format to include a race on the Friday night as well as racing on Saturday and Sunday. This format change should mitigate the risk of weather problems for the event and ensure adequate races are included in the results.
A fleet of 30+ boats and over 150 sailors are expected with entries from central New Zealand as well as from the Waikawa Boating Club yachts and crew.
“We are primed and ready to welcome regatta entrants from our fleet and out-of-town entrants alike, with boats and crew entries anticipated from Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington and further afield," club Rear Commodore (sailing) Bill Crossen said.
"It’s always a friendly event with great camaraderie amongst crews and numerous volunteers making the weekend a highlight on our club calendar."
"Our reputation for delivering a safe, fun, competitive event continues to grow on the back of regular sailing events and the recent Evolution Sails Women’s Regattas," Events and Functions Manager Clive Ballett said.
"With a fortnight between our regatta and the Tasman Bay regatta, we expect to see a great number of Nelson-based boats as well as Nelson-bound trailer yachts on our waters in early January."
For more information contact Ballett at events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz.
Ten boats battled it out at the Noelex 22 South Island championships.
Cannon Ball fires at Noelex 22 South Islands
Marakura Yacht Club hosted the Noelex 22 South Island championships on November 18-19 with 10 boats competing.
Naval Point Club Lyttelton's Dan Meheen (Cannon Ball) was the overall winner after two days of close and intense racing, followed by Dan Blain (Freestyle) and Gwynn Gilmore (Red Pepper).
Big smiles, bigger gains in Wanaka
It was big smiles all around in perfect weather over a weekend of racing at last month's O'pen Skiff South Island championships hosted by Wanaka Yacht Club.
Fourteen boats competed in a fun and friendly event across two days, where huge gains in skills were made throughout the weekend.
Competitors came from as far afield as North Canterbury and Te Anau with 12-year-old Wanaka Yacht Club sailor Joel Gemmel the overall winner after seeing off some tough opposition from Tapper sisters, Aani and Ellie, from Marakura Yacht Club.
Full results here.
