News

Just like the city itself, Auckland Anniversary Regatta is a melting pot of cultural experiences, and the regatta is pleased to welcome the return of Dragon Boating. It's the Chinese year of the Water Dragon, and Dragon Boats will take to the water, for Auckland Anniversary Regatta, on Monday 28 January. Crewed by ten paddlers, plus a drummer to set the rhythm, and a sweep or helm to guide the boat in a straight line, the boats, which are from Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Hamilton, will be based at Waitemata Plaza, and will race from approximately 10am-4pm in the Viaduct Basin.

This race coach course will be held at Wakatere Boating club on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th February. 8th February 5-9pm. 9th February 9am-5pm. Bring along; Your laptop or a notebook to take notes, Sailing gear (the Saturday you will sail and be on the coach boat doing some practical elements of the course).

Peter Burling is not the only kiwi showing them how it’s done across the Tasman – Nick Egnot-Johnson has finished at the top of the leader-board at the 2013 Australian Optimist National Championship Regatta where a fleet of 130 sailors were racing in the Open division.

Peter Burling has cleaned up the 2013 Australian Moth Championships Regatta held over the last week at the Wangi RSL Sailing Club, north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. During the 15 race series staged over six days, Burling dominated the fleet winning no less than ten of those races. He only finished outside the top six in just one race and concluded the regatta 14 points clear of second place-getter Scott Babbage. Reigning world champion in the Moth Joshua McKnight finished third.

Firstly, we wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year! And follow up with a bit of an update… It has been a rather different time for us the last few months, it’s been crazily busy, but not so much the sailing and training busy that we are used to. We have visited countless schools and yacht clubs all over New Zealand, been to rather a few school prize givings, numerous corporate events, a few sports award evenings and even met some royals! Our medals have passed through thousands of hands, and overall it has all been rather a bit of a whirlwind end of the year!

Radio controlled sailing isn't just for retired yachtsmen: the current generation of America's-Cup pros are also enjoying the challenges of racing miniature boats, and Wattle Farm in Manurewa is one of the best venues in New Zealand for the purpose.

The 47th Black Heart Hartley 16 Nationals to be held in New Plymouth next week are ready to go with 23 boats entered coming from Whangarei, Auckland, Napier and New Plymouth.

The official event website has been launched for the 2013 Finn Gold Cup to be held in Tallinn, Estonia from August 23-31. www.finngoldcup.org/2013 The Finn Gold Cup will be the fourth world championship for an Olympic sport hosted in Estonia. The Finn class previously sailed its very successful 1994 Gold Cup at Pärnu, and the event website includes a video of that event, together with an interview with the winner, a very young Fredrik Lööf (SWE), who of course captured the Star Gold medal at last year’s Olympic Games.

Are you looking for a way to provide accessible sailing at your club? Looking to establish a sailing group for people with a disability? The NZ Access Class Association with help from AMP has two Access 303 dinghies available for loan.