News

Nearly 200 sailors from ten countries are ready to race at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2013; due to get underway at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club this Saturday. The regatta entry list is longer than organizers anticipated, and star studded as anybody would expect of an Olympic and Paralympic class event of this calibre. Although they are the only Women’s 470 sailors registered, Olympic Gold medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie are faced with a competitive regatta against some internationally accomplished men in their own right. 22 year old Paul Snow Hansen who sailed to a fifth at the 2012 Olympics with Jason Saunders, is now sailing with Daniel Willcox. Paul and Daniel were teammates at the 2004 Optimist World Championships where they got second and fourth respectively.

Five months from race start, the latest of 13 boats to put their hand up so far for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji Ocean race in June 2013 may also turn out to be the smallest in the fleet. Lew Anne is an 11m John Lidgard design, built from cement, and weighing in at over 12 tonnes. She is owned by Dave Harding, who is now nearly 70 and who started building her in his backyard in Onehunga in 1965, finished building her in 1995, and who last took part in the Auckland to Fiji race in 1999, where Lew Anne placed second.

The A Class Nationals was run in Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch last week and has concluded with Blair Tuke from Kerikeri taking the title in commanding fashion.

Auckland - The city of Auckland in New Zealand will again play host to sailing's greatest adventure after winning selection as a Host Port in the Volvo Ocean Race for both the 12th edition in 2014-15 and the 13th.

The 2013 NZ Paper Tiger National Championships hosted by the Maraetai Sailing Club in Auckland continued competitive racing today with 2 more races completed in conditions that tested the full variety of conditions.

After nine windy races on the Waitemata, Brendan Tourelle has for the second time won the NZ Access Liberty Class National Championships. He was a clear force to be reckoned with, after winning both races on the final day he had an eleven point lead on second place getter Tim Dempsey.

As of today, registration for the 2013 Delta Lloyd Regatta has been opened. You can now register for the second leg in the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup. As mentioned before, this brand new series beholds five prestigious regattas which incorporates new innovations in race formats, that will make sailing easier to follow and more attractive for sailors, media and spectators.

Panmure Lagoon Sailing Club will be celebrating its 50th Jubilee with a 2-day celebration starting with a 50th Celebration Soiree at the Waipuna on the evening of 2nd March, where all current and former Club members are invited with the annual RSA Regatta on the following day 3rd March, which is open to all outside sailors.