Issue date
The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also ask for your help when it comes to trailer yacht cruising.
There's been renewed interest in trailer yacht cruising recently, so Yachting New Zealand have committed to upgrading the cruising section on our website to include more information on trailer yachting.
We will be collecting information over the coming months, from cruising grounds, anchoring and types, to solar power, boat, rig, trailer, winch maintenance and much more.
While there is a huge amount of information on YouTube, it’s not easy to find exactly what you need so we'll endeavour to make this easier by pulling relevant information together and housing it in one place.
But this is where we need your help.
We would love to hear from you if you know of any handy YouTube links or have any other information that can help. And send us your pics so we can build our catalogue of shots.
For more information and to pass on information, please contact central area regional development manager Wayne Holdt.
Hartley 16 national championships
The Hartley 16 Class nationals have been hit by Covid restrictions four times over the last couple of years but are now committed to running the 54th nationals, even shifting the venue and date of the regatta to make it happen.
This regatta will now be hosted by the New Plymouth Yacht Club on April 7-10, 2022.
There has been good interest in attending the regatta from all regions so far and the local fleet are looking to front up with 12 boats as a base fleet.
This regatta will also be the second leg of the class North Sails Travellers Series, which is also backed by class sponsor Mount Gay Rum.
Sailability Otago
Sailing may have been well outside their comfort zone, but that was not going to get in the way of several people giving it a go at a recent have-a-go day at the Broad Bay Boating Club.
People with disabilities were buddied up with able-bodied volunteers on Hansa 303 yachts loaned to the Sailability Otago Trust.
The weather gods smiled down on the participants, with fine weather and light winds providing the perfect setting for many new to sailing.
Sailiability Otago were established recently and aim to to create a hub of inclusive sailing in Otago Harbour at the Broad Bay Boating Club.
Lipton Cup
Photo: Live Sail Die
The Lipton Cup celebrated the 100th running of the event in spectacular style last year but a reduced fleet is expected in 2022.
Covid restrictions have caused major disruptions, not only to the racing programmes for all clubs and fleets but also to the annual boat maintenance and ongoing restoration of a number of old classics.
Organisers are pressing ahead with this year's race, which will be on March 19, and it's open to all mullet boats.
Bay of Islands Yacht Club
The Bay of Islands Yacht Club was a hive of activity last weekend when they hosted the OK Dinghy national championships and a round of the Starling Traveller Series.
Some challenging conditions greeted sailors and race officials, with winds ranging from 8-25 knots and a nice swell, but the conditions deteriorated on Sunday with only one race possible.
Nearly 100 boats have sailed at the various Starling Traveller Series events and the overall points have closed up. The points table can be accessed by Starling Class Association members only.
Marine biosecurity
Boat owners and yacht club members are warmly are invited to a series of free online seminars about marine biosecurity in New Zealand.
Learn from industry experts and scientists leading the marine biosecurity field in New Zealand on a range of topics relating to marine pests in New Zealand, including a practical demonstration for boat owners at Gulf Harbour Marina in May.
Register online at www.marinepests.nz/events to receive an email reminder closer to the event.
Maraetai Sailing Club
It was the Maraetai Sailing Club's turn to host a round of the East Auckland Opti & Starling Series recently, which attracted 62 boats.
The initiative is an inter-club series between Howick Sailing Club, Glendowie Boating Club, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and Maraetai Sailing Club and clubs take turns hosting. The aim is to help develop junior sailing in the East Auckland area and provide friendly competition between the clubs.
A gentle 8-10 knot breeze and clear skies made for some champagne sailing at Maraetai, who are the current holders of the prestigious centreboard trophy.
Maraetai have just managed to hold on to it so far this season with one event remaining to be sailed at the Howick Sailing Club on April 3.
This is a fantastic series between the four east Auckland clubs and they've fostered a great culture of friendship and friendly competition.
Results from the Maraeta round here.
Burgess Trophy
As many as 13 schools were represented at the recent Burgess Trophy fleet racing regatta hosted by the Hamilton Yacht Club.
Only schools with five or more boats were eligible for the overall trophy, which was won this year by St Peters Cambridge. It was the first time an all-junior team has triumphed, and they were closely followed by Hamilton Boys' High School and Mercury Bay Area School.
Hamilton can be a tricky place to sail, and the 45 competitor this year had to contend with a dying breeze and then one that came from the wrong direction. Nevertheless, three races were completed.
Wanganui Sailing Club
The Wanganui Sailing Club hosted their annual regatta last weekend, with light winds for the first day and a nice breeze for the second.
Good fleets of Paper Tigers, Hartley 16s, Aeros and ILCAs (Lasers) attended and had some really close racing over the two days.
River currents are always a challenge, particularly when the wind is light, and day one was no exception as sailors battled to keep out of the tide. A bit more breeze on Sunday saw some great racing with all races completed.
French Bay Yacht Club
French Bay's one-day regatta is the annual highlight for sailors in west Auckland and this year the club and venue delivered yet again.
Covid caused a few issues for sailors and volunteers but it didn't stop 50 boats turning up to enjoy the day.
Matt Hall-Smith stood in as principal race officer at the last minute and put on some great rolling starts on a sprint-format course for five fleets, managing to get more than 25 starts away in the short tidal timeframe.
The event also saw many of the club's new families enjoying the buzz of the regatta day too, with parents volunteering for the first time on the water as well as kids giving racing a go. It was great to see so many new sailors and parents come off the water buzzing.
Sailors from clubs as far away as Taranaki competed and many picked up some fantastic prizes provided by Burnsco Westgate. A special prize went to Bella Vinall in her Optimist for showing persistence on the race track and a great attitude.
Wellington schools regatta
The Wellington primary, intermediate and secondary schools fleet regatta was hosted by the Paremata Boating Club last week, with more than 40 boats competing.
Even changing to the reserve day didn’t deter these young sailors from a days' sailing.
Huge thanks to the team at Paremata Boating Club, who always make a special effort to make this regatta an enjoyable experience for all.
Mercury Bay Boating Club
The Mercury Bay Boating Club hosted a very successful multihull regatta in Whitianga last weekend, with competitors travelling from as far afield as Christchurch and Northland.
The club's signature event, Double Trouble, was cancelled last November due to Covid-19 but the presidents of both the A-Class and Tornado asked Mercury Bay if they would consider hosting an event in February as a lead-in to their nationals.
The club agreed, and also added a Hobie Cat fleet. In total, 11 A-Class, five Tornadoes and 16 Hobies competed over the two days.
“Most had sailed in the 2020 edition of Double Trouble and having had a great sailing weekend at that event, needed little convincing to come back to our beautiful Bay,” club commodore Jonathan Kline said.
John Kennet (Whangarei Cruising Club) came out on top in the A-Class fleet, Jason Marra and Brendon Dusky (Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club) took the honours in the Tornado fleet and Kline and crew member Chris Devenoges took top spot on the Hobie Cat podium.
Starling North Island championships
The Plimmerton Boating Club will host this year's Starling North Island championships on March 26-27, which will be a real boost to the local Starling fleet with good numbers now established at Worser Bay, Heretaunga, Paremata and Plimmerton.
The regatta will also count towards the class' Travellers Series and will be a great lead-in to next month's Starling nationals in Napier.
Bucklands Beach Yacht Club
The Bucklands Beach Yacht Club will host the next round of the RS Feva Traveller Series on March 19-20, which will be the last significant shake-up before next month's national championships.
A good-sized fleet is expected to compete at the nationals at the Maraetai Sailing Club on April 2-3.
See here for more information on the Bucklands Beach event, including notice of race and entry form.
