News

Mid February’s Volvo National Sailing & Boating Day is shaping up to be a nationwide phenomenon. Our What’s happening, and where? page now features close to 40 Clubs from all around the country with details of a wide range of events planned for Sunday February 16th and registrations from Clubs are still being accepted.

Did you know that there will be THREE world champion crews competing at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2014? The regatta runs from 1st – 4th February 2014 at Royal Akarana Yacht Club in Auckland.

New Zealand extend a commanding lead over Australia in the 2014 12' skiff Interdominions on now at Worser Bay Boating Club in Wellington, after a race day packed with drama, incident and very tight racing. Wellington's 'nuking' winds brought chaos and another lead change, as a third competitor puts one hand on one of dinghy sailing's most desirable trophies.

Here’s a look at the up-coming sailing related events around the country for the next couple of weeks. See the YNZ on-line calendar for full details of these events and those on beyond that. Are you organising an event you would like to see included? Don’t miss out on some free promotion for your sailing events by adding them to the YNZ on-line calendar here.

On 21 January 1939, 75 years ago, four bach owners met at Gerald Anderson’s place at Paradise Bay to consider the formation of a yacht club on their side of Lyttelton Harbour. The Charteris Bay Yacht Club opened the following weekend on 28 January 1939 and on the 29th January 1939 the first race was sailed under the club’s banner.

It's now known as Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, and it is one of the biggest regattas in the world, hosted by 17 different yacht and watersports clubs, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and with events at locations throughout Auckland. For those that don't have a boat, it's an opportunity for a relaxing day watching events unfold on the harbor, and the best viewing locations for landlubbers are Bastion Point, North Head, East Coast Bays, Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf, and Princes Wharf.

The NZL Sailing Team features strongly in the finalists named for the 51st Westpac Halberg Awards. Two double-handed sailing crews - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, and Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – are up against the All Blacks (Rugby), Black Sox (Softball) and Men’s Pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing) for Team of the Year. And Nathan Handley is one of four finalists for Coach of the Year – the others include Eddie Kohlhase (Softball), Guy Wilson (Golf), and Steve Hansen (Rugby).

January marks time when the central region will host the Optisail 3-day live-in fun camps at Titahi Bay Boating Club in Wellington 27-28-29 January 2014 and at the New Plymouth Yacht Club 22-23-24 January 2014 and the all new East Coast Juniorsail to be held at the Wairoa Yacht Club 21-22-23 January 2014.

NEXT MONTH – registration on the 21st January is coming up fast. Have you got your entry in?