News

Two weeks prior to the Coastal Classic, the fleet is in very good shape, and organisers have extended the earlybird period for late entrants. This morning, over 160 entries had been received on the new Coastal Classic website, making it a fleet that is already well up on last year's. These included Laura Dekker, who is the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe solo in a sail boat, teamed up for a two handed effort with 16 year old Edwin Delaat on Edwin's Farr 727 Crac-a-Jac. Jim Farmer's TP52, Georgia, has returned to New Zealand and is handicapper's co-favourite in Division 1. Past winner V5 is the other. It's the first Coastal Classic for two Northland boats: Ray Haslar's new Reichel Pugh 42, Rikki, and Chris Hornell's Kia Kaha. Sad news is that with important work to complete, Steinlager II won't make this year's race, but the stalwart Lion New Zealand will.

Seven teams competed for the title of national champion at the 2012 New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship. Racing took place over three days with Chris Steele and team from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron taking out the Warren "Wolfie" Williams trophy to become the 2012 New Zealand youth match racing champions.

French Bay Yacht Club in Titirangi has got four one-day sailing courses for adults this summer season, and is now accepting bookings. They are a great way to learn (or re-learn) the basics that you need to start sailing regularly with the club. They are run by Elements Watersports sailing school so you get instructors who know what they are doing and who can help you get up to speed quickly.

NZL Sailing Team Laser campaigner Andy Maloney updates us on some sailing ‘cross-training’ he’s been partaking in over the last couple of months…

The Kiwi Ability Regatta, held from January 29th - 30th at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club will be a regatta for sailors with Intellectual disability, those with Acquired Brain Injury and those on the Autism Spectrum.This regatta will be competed in Access 303’s – crews can be fully ID, (where at least one sailor has racing experience at club level), or mixed (where ID sailor maintains helm, and non ID crew can control mainsail and/or jibsail).

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club fleet to enjoy the three race Vet Centre Handicap series. The Race Officer Katrin Wendt, managed to organise the fleet and sail herself in light breezes but tightly contested racing.

Bay of Islands Yacht Club updates with news and images from the recent training weekend, plus spaces are on offer in the up-coming Learn to Sail course…

News that our Olympic gold medallists will be at the Stack Winter Champs, and a spectacular prize package donated by The Water Shed and North Sails, will make next week's Stack Winter Champs at Murrays Bay Sailing Club, more special than ever. Divisional winners and placegetters will be able to shake hands with Olympic Gold Medallists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie at the prize giving of the Stack Winter Champs and check out first hand the 470 dinghy that Jo and Polly sailed to Olympic glory.

Opening day was a fantastic success. Blue skies, gentle breezes, warm weather, mercifully short speeches and the cannon didn't blow Phil's eye brows off.