News

It was a frustrating day for all at the first day of the Laser National Championships at Napier Sailing Club. The fleet of over 100 was on the water for the scheduled 1pm start but the wind spent the whole afternoon boxing the compass and constantly varying from nothing to 20+knots so only one race was completed for the Laser Open division with none of the other divisions managing to complete a race.

On January 27th 2013, Olympic Gold Medallist Jo Aleh will be one of the many helping Sailability Auckland celebrate 20 years of organized sailing for people with a disability in New Zealand

Entries are now firming up as boats complete their qualifications. So far we have 8 boats entered from Wellington and Nelson, with Wedgetail and Am Meer completing their qualifying voyages over the Christmas break. If you haven’t already completed the Advanced Sea Survival course, a reminder that Wellington Ocean Sports is running one over the weekend of January 26 – 27 so get in quick. Click here to register, or contact them direct for more information.

There will be plenty of action off Maraetai Beach in Auckland late January when the Maraetai Sailing Club host the 2013 New Zealand Paper Tiger Nationals from January 24 to 28. The event will see over 50 boats from all over the country competing in spectacular fashion off Maraetai Beach in the Tamaki Straits with the racing format expected to produce some very tight results.

A number of yacht clubs are finding a school holiday programme delivering Learn to Sail 1… Start Sailing! over a four-day intensive a popular option through January.

Notices of Race have been released and online entry is now open for two Regional Championships: the 2013 Asia Pacific Access Class Championships and the 2013 European Championships. We have the links for you

Anyone planning to compete in Auckland Anniversary Regatta should get their entry in as soon as possible. Approximately 500 boats are expected on Monday 28 January, and although late entries are accepted, organiser Joyce Talbot asks that entries are submitted before the late entry date (21 or 24 January depending on the event entered) wherever possible.

Sailors from all over New Zealand descended upon Wellington this past weekend for the Seaview Sails and Rigging Starling North Island Championships regatta for 2013, held in Eastbourne and hosted by the Muritai Yacht Club. Held over three days in what can only be described as boat and sailor breaking conditions, over 50 competitors took to the water in their singlehanded dinghies to contest the nine race series. The regatta was a closely fought contest, with most of the top positions not decided until the final race.

The M Class association with the support of Hyundai Motors New Zealand and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club are proud to announce the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of M-Class yacht racing. The 2012/13 season will mark 90 uninterrupted seasons of racing on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour for the iconic M-Class, affectionately known as the ‘Emmy’.