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Coastal Classic

Regional Roundup - Regional associations

Issue date

The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and remind you of the significance of regional associations.


The Auckland Yacht and Boating Association are like a lot of regional associations around the country who support yachting and boating clubs.

The AYBA incorporate 43 clubs and meet regularly to plan, strategise and discuss how they can support and promote yachting and boating across the Auckland region.

They also subsidise a number of different courses for members, including rescue boat and first aid courses, and recently assisted Yachting New Zealand run a race officers seminar for up-and-coming race officials. There are a handful of subsidised first aid courses coming up at various clubs around Auckland, including ones at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (Oct 2), Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (Oct 16) and Maraetai Sailing Club (Nov 26). 

One of the key things they do is work in with clubs to ensure there aren't too many clashes on the combined events calendar, which was updated recently and can be found here.

It's not very well known that regional associations like the AYBA are willing to support clubs with meeting some of their costs. They played a leading hand, for example, in helping ship a container from Auckland to Christchurch for last year's P Class nationals and have invested in March's women's keelboat regatta to be hosted by the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club.

The AYBA are looking for newcomers to join the committee at their upcoming AGM on September 12 at the Ponsonby Cruising Club. Dimitri Colella, a senior marine biosecurity advisor from the Environmental Services Unit, will be guest speaker at the AGM, illustrating the AYBA's commitment to advocacy and environmental issues.

Ian Clouston, who has done an amazing job leading the organisation over many years, is stepping down as AYBA chair but he won’t be far away as he is still an active race official and also involved on Yachting New Zealand committees.

See here for more on the AYBA and please contact your local regional development manager for more information on what your regional association can do for your club.

Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club

Evans Bay

Evans Bay have had a really busy winter this year and, on top of June's inaugural Te Akautangi Matariki Water Sports Festival, they have also hosted their annual Barton Marine Winter Series.

This year marked the fifth time Barton Marine have come on as title sponsor - and they've just renewed for the 2023 series which kicks off on June 17 - and it helped ensure another successful winter on the water.

While the winter weather in Wellington hasn't been kind, it has been incredibly generous to Evans Bay, with all six scheduled sailing days completed (although one did have to be abandoned mid-afternoon due to no wind - a rarity in Wellington).

A total of 66 boats entered the series with everything from Optimists to Ross 40 keelboats competing.

The spoils were decided on the last day for nearly all divisions and the overall winners were often decided in the final trip up the Bay. In the keelboat division, a single point separated the winners and six points separated the top six.

Full details about the series can be found here.

Opua Cruising Club

Opua Cruising Club

Members of the Opua Cruising Club got together for a cruise with a special purpose when they sailed to Pareanui Bay recently.

The members enjoyed a well-earned pot luck picnic lunch after cleaning up beach at Pareanui Bay, which was littered with plastic rubbish after the recent storms.

New friends, great company and good deeds.

Pleasant Point Yacht Club

Pleasant Point Yacht Club

Spring is here and one of the first clubs in the South Island had their opening day for the season recently.

It was almost appropriate, given the time of year, that the Pleasant Point Yacht Club had almost four seasons in one day.

Proceedings started with not much wind, as members drifted out to a start line, and ended with most trying to stay upright on their way back to the ramp as a strong nor-wester blew in.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this day a success, both on and off the water, as well to the visiting sailors who came out to support the club. A special thanks to Steve for the excellent on-water photographs, like the one featured above.

The club's next sailing days are on September 18 and 24, and the PPYC Wahine on the Water Regatta is on the weekend of October 1-2. Find more information at ppycsailing,nz.

Worser Bay Boating Club

Worser Bay Boating Club

A little further north, the Worser Bay Boating Club will open their 2022/23 sailing season, the 97th since they were established, with the Munford Trophy race on Saturday.

The season opener will follow on from a great evening recently at the club for the Boat Shed Chat they had with America's Cup winner, former Finn world champion and Worser Bay sailor Josh Junior and new Waszp world champion Elise Beavis.

The club regularly host national championships and are looking forward to hosting the Zephyr nationals in early February. They have a great base fleet of this class at the club there should be good numbers for the regatta which was postponed because of Covid last season.

Murrays Bay Sailing Club

Icebreaker

The Murrays Bay Sailing Club's Icebreaker regatta makes a welcome return to the sailing calendar in 2022 after being absent for a couple of years due to Covid 19.

The event is always a sign that the summer season is fast approaching and the club are expecting a large number of entries.

This year's event on September 17 also incorporates the final round of the Auckland Winter Sprint Series and is open to all Optimist Green, Optimist Open, P-Class, Starling, RS Feva, O’pen Skiff, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, 420, 470, 29er and WASZP sailors.

You can find out more about it here, including the notice of race and entry form.

Manly Sailing Club

O'pen Bic

Manly will be awash with colour on the weekend of September 24-25 for the 29er North Island championships and Manly Spring Youth Regatta.

The Spring Regatta is open to all O'pen Skiff, RS Feva, Starling and ILCA 6 sailors and you can find out more about it here.

Ngaroto Sailing Club

Ngaroto

After being postponed in August due to too much water in the lake, the Ngaroto Sailing Club got the John Dixon trailer yacht regatta away recently in perfect weather and a nice breeze.

Winning the regatta was the Farr 5000 Piccolo from the Waitara Boating Club.

Ngaroto have a busy start to the summer, hosting the Hartley 16 North Island championships, a Paper Tiger regatta and the Hansa 303 nationals.

Gulf Harbour Yacht Club

Gulf Harbour Yacht Club

Race 8 of the Neptune's Gear Limited and Liquid Laundromat winter series was another good example of what can be achieved when clubs work together.

On this occasion, the Weiti Boating Club ran the races, which featured plenty of action on the water in a constant south-westerly breeze. 

Gold Division
Line honours: Toyshop
Handicap: 
1st - Mayflower: 2nd - Hero: 3rd - Quicksilver

White Division
Line honours: Hijinx
Handicap: 
1st - Boadicea: 2nd - Azure: 3rd - Glory Days