News

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 in January and beyond. Don’t see your event in there? Don’t miss out on some free promotion for your sailing events by adding them to the YNZ on-line calendar here.

With summer kicking in and a lot more people getting out on the water it is timely to remind boaties to keep an eye on others out on the water. For those of you yacht racing, remember “Rule 1.1 Helping Those in Danger – A boat or competitor shall give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger” This is also a good rule for anyone else out on the water, cruising, fishing or otherwise if you see someone in danger, stop, see if you can provide any assistance and contact Coastguard on *500 from your mobile phone. Report all serious incidents requiring assistance on VHF Channel 16.

Sailability Auckland held their annual have a go day on December 1st, and despite the rescheduled date and conflict with other community events, 16 new sailors turned up to embrace the opportunity to try sailing.

New Zealand has an exciting new high profile yacht race on the calendar with the launch of the A2B Blue Water Classic Yacht Race announced today at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. The opening edition of the race is set to take place in February 2014 and its anticipated the A2B will become an iconic kiwi blue-water ocean race.

Wairoa Yacht Club hosted the Wairoa River Regatta and East Coast Championships last weekend with great weather and wind for both days of the event. Junior training officer Jill Metz-Mayhead said it was one of the biggest regattas since their 50th in 2008.

The 11th edition of the Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club was another great success over the weekend of 1st and 2nd December 2012. With over 360 competitors in 19 different classes competing over three courses the event is a great tribute to New Zealand’s greatest ocean sailor. Conditions were challenging with westerly winds gusting to 30 knots on the Sunday. A number of capsizes, broken masts and rescues tested the competitors and the vast number of volunteers and helpers who make this massive regatta possible. Certainly the fortitude and determination of Sir Peter Blake was needed by all sailors to complete the event.

Timaru Yacht & Powerboat Club invites all Optimist sailors to participate in the 2013 Toyota Open Fleet National Championships and Sail One Green Fleet Championships. On over the Easter break the regatta runs from 29th March until 2nd April with a new Optimist National Champion for 2013 to be decided.

A group of Starling sailors for the Otago Harbour headed up to Wanaka last weekend for the Wanaka Yacht & Power Boat Club’s Spring Youth and Junior Regatta held over Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December. What has made the travel possible for the Starling sailors is a purpose built trailer that parent, Graeme Bennett had built at Toko Engineering from Milton. The tandem trailer can carry 12 Starlings or other combinations of other yachts.

Dunedin is getting set to get up close and personal with an Olympic medal with Peter Burling, silver medallist in the 49er and Jez Fanstone, Olympic Programme director winging south to catch up with yacht club locals on Friday and Saturday.