News

There was extensive surface flooding across the coastal Bay of Plenty over the weekend. “We can assume that all flood water is potentially contaminated with farm run-off, faecal matter from feral and domestic animals, and, in some cases, sewage,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack. There are potential health risks associated with contaminated flood water and the Medical Officer of Health has provided the following advice to help prevent illness in the community.

Helena Horswell gives us her insight from the 2013 Access Class Asia Pacific Championships: I had been told that last time a kiwi contingent went to an Access Class event here, there was a huge problem with weed in the lake, but apart from the rather murky colour, the only issue this time was the low level, causing berthing issues at the dock for Libertys and Skuds.

Despite some very wet weather twelve sailors took to the water aiming to get their name on the Waller Cup; Sailability Auckland's Regional Championship held on April 20 & 21. After years of trying, John Toole finally got his name on the cup!

Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) is proud to announce the 2014 Sail Fiji offshore yacht race with confirmed 2014 dates for the classic Auckland to Fiji ocean race and passage cruise rally.The Cruising Rally will start from Monday the second of June 2014 and the Premier Race will start on Saturday the 7th of June 2014.

A tough contingent of Australians will meet a brilliant but lone majority New Zealand crew for the ANZAC long weekend running of stage two of the TP52 Southern Cross Cup at Sandringham Yacht Club, April 26-28. Australian and New Zealand comrades will be honoured this coming ANZAC Day for fighting side-by-side, a tradition which began on the bloody shores of Gallipoli during WWI. In keeping with the modern day rivalry between the two great sporting nations eight TP52s will square off on the waters of Port Phillip in Victoria the following day to begin the quest for the series’ perpetual trophy.

Racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres is underway with day one of the six day regatta now drawing to a close in Hyeres, France. A solid team of kiwi campaigners are competing including 14 entries across six events including the Laser, Finn, 49er, 49erFX, Men’s 470 and Nacra17. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox have opened with an almost faultless performance in the Men’s 470 class to top the 63 strong fleet after day one of qualifying, sailed in light winds off Hyeres.

Bucklands Beach Yacht Club has put out a call for yachties from all Auckland area clubs to head down to their waters to race in the PIC Insurance Winter Series 2013. The naming rights sponsor PIC Insurance is putting on a massive load of prizes, and they have discounted the entry fees to attract 'out of club' boats to take part.

There's plenty on with the active Elliott 5.9 Fleet: the 2013 Nationals have just concluded, in this update you can find info on the upcoming traveller series, new boat owners, 2014 Nationals, equipment available and more...

We have been using the Yacht Bot trackers for training with the NZL Radial Worlds Sailors. The trackers fit easily around the mast and also onto the buoys. Using the trackers data has proved incredibly useful at giving us detailed information for our debrief’s. The focus of our training has been on lane holding and speed upwind, then angles and decision making downwind where huge distances can be gained and lost in the laser.