Issue date
Our NZCT regional development managers wrap up the latest news from across the country, including a recap of the national championships over the last month as the domestic sailing season winds down.
State of the nation: All the latest national champs
Shapeshifter, helmed by Brett Elliott with Nick Bastow and Matthew Stuart, delivered a standout performance to win the Elliott 5.9 national championship at Napier Sailing Club over the weekend, snapping R+R’s long-standing dominance at the event. The trio claimed six wins from 10 races, asserting control in a fleet known for its tight competition. Despite pressure from Revelry and others, Shapeshifter remained composed, while Reggae Shark took third. Class Act, the youth development boat skippered by Sam Scott, won the Ranking Trophy as the most improved team.
A week earlier, Derek Snow claimed his sixth title in the Farr 3.7 at the 'Back Paddock' nationals hosted by Maraetai Sailing Club. Snow is now only two behind the record of class icon John Elliott. At the same event, Trent Justice defended his crown in the J14 competition, while Tasman Rowntree and Josh Schon took out the Cherub nationals.
Fourteen sailors battled varying conditions at the Sunburst nationals at Queen Charlotte Yacht Club on March 15 and 16, but no one handled it better than Craig and Roberto Beavis. The father-son duo won four races to secure the title by three points from club teammates Bruce Yarnton and Rebecca Garcia. Matthew Hix and Amanda Hargreaves took third.
A dominant Jasper Camenzind secured the Waszp national crown with five wins from 12 races at Naval Point Club Lyttelton between March 14 and 16. He also finished in the top three in five other races to take out the overall and youth title. Will Mason was second overall (and first junior), with Ash Cole third. Top female went to Elise Beavis, with Charlotte Philpott second (and 12th overall in the 18-boat fleet). Dave Shaw won the master category.
Back in Auckland, Westlake Boys’ High School triumphed after three days of competitive racing in Elliott 7s to secure the secondary schools keelboat nationals at Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The regatta, held annually since 2007, saw 20 high school teams from across the country compete on the Waitematā Harbour. Light winds challenged sailors throughout, but Westlake’s crew navigated the conditions best to secure the national title after a weekend of tactical racing.
Sean Herbert secured his second consecutive wingfoil national title by winning an impressive 11 of 14 races at Wakatere Boating Club from March 7 to 9 to finish 17 points ahead of runner-up Jeremiah McDonald, with Kosta Gladiadis claiming third and the youth title. Stella Bilger was the top female competitor, Jon Bilger won the master division, and Andrew Mitchell took the grand master title. The Kiwi wingfoil fleet continues to show impressive growth with a total of 117 competitors battling it out in, at times, spicy conditions.
Earlier last month, the rebuilding of the domestic 420 fleet gathered momentum with the national championships at Takapuna Boating Club. The class nationals was the second major regatta in as many weeks for the double-handed dinghy, following the 2025 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland regatta hosted by Torbay Sailing Club. Cam Brown and Oli Stone secured seven wins in 12 races in shifty, gusty conditions to take the overall title by five points ahead of Tessa Clinton and Amelia Higson.
At Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, Scott Leith secured the overall win with three victories from seven completed races at the Zephyr nationals, ending the reign of serial national champion Mark Orams, who did not compete this year. Leith, a 10-time ILCA masters world champion, sailed the Zephyr for the first time at the event. Rod Dawson finished second, while Mike Drummond took third place. In the women’s division, Polly Wright and Amanda Hargreaves claimed the top two spots, with local sailor Jess McDowell in third.
Enter now for Whangaroa rally
Entries are now open for the 2025 Whangaroa Race and Cruising Rally, set for April 25. The event will see sailors race from the Bay of Islands Yacht Club to Whangaroa Harbour, welcoming both competitive racers and cruisers. Participants can look forward to an exhilarating day on the water, followed by a relaxed evening with a raft-up sundowner. Click here for more information and to register.
Fun and foiling at Otehei Bay Cup
Opua Cruising Club hosted the Otehei Bay Cup during the last weekend in March. Open to keelboats, multihulls, trailer sailors, foilers, dinghies and launches, the event saw 19 competitors and some “very fun, tight racing off the sandbar”. Organisers described it as a “fantastic” day, which also included plenty of foiling, cricket and a shared BBQ at Paradise.
RŪNĀ partner honoured
Sail Northland, Yachting New Zealand's RŪNĀ school and community engagement deliverer in Whangārei, has been named this year’s winner of the Northland Sport Community Impact Award, recognising and celebrating excellence in Northland’s play, active recreation, and sport sector.
Established in 2016, Sail Northland is a charitable organisation based in Parua Bay, Whangārei Heads, with a mission to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sailing. The organisation operates with a team of three staff members and 30 volunteers, supporting 1,232 participants and 27 schools during the 2023–2024 period.
Judges praised Sail Northland for its significant increase in participation and the growth and development of its programmes.
Murrays Bay at Feva pitch
The 2025 RS Feva national championships, one of the largest double-handed regattas in the Southern Hemisphere, will be held at Murrays Bay Sailing Club early next month.
Sailors will compete in top-tier racing, while spectators can enjoy delicious food, coffee in the morning, and a refreshing beer in the evening. It’s set to be a weekend full of exciting sailing action and a great atmosphere, whether you’re racing or just soaking in the views.
Click here to register for the event, which will take place on May 10 and 11.
First Pae Tawhiti session held
Wakatere Boating Club recently hosted its first Pae Tawhiti sailing session, a programme designed to introduce kids from underprivileged backgrounds to sailing.
The initiative, created by ex-Commodore Ed Crook and operations manager Helena Sanderson, was inspired by the Cape Town-based Little Optimist programme, which provides similar opportunities for township youth.
Wakatere partnered with Kingdom City Church in Northcote, with 12 teenagers eager to try sailing. The group were introduced to sailing with a morning of activities, including a rigging session, knot-tying lessons, and a fun game to get to know the participants.
The sailors then set out on the water in Optimists for a "learn to sail" session, followed by a sail in RS Quest boats to Cheltenham and back. The day wrapped up with capsize practice, hot showers, and the presentation of certificates.
The Pae Tawhiti programme is supported by the New Zealand Community Trust and Devonport Takapuna Local Board.
Anyone interested in getting involved or donating is encouraged to contact the club.
RNZYS North Lawn Party today
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s North Sails North Lawn Party, postponed due to bad weather last week, will now take place tomorrow (Friday, April 11).
The event marks the end of the summer sailing season and will be held on the RNZYS North Lawn following the rum race (from 5pm). Members and guests are invited to enjoy an evening of celebration, marking another successful season on the water.
Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Strong turnout for Gulf Classic
Waikato Yacht Squadron’s Gulf Classic regatta saw 34 boats take on challenging courses across the Hauraki Gulf from March 14-16.
Competitors tackled three routes: a 40-nautical-mile race for trailer yachts, a 60-nautical-mile course for experienced sailors, and an 80-nautical-mile challenge for keelers and A Class trailer yachts.
Division winners include Audrey, Reggae Shark, Escargot and Winsome II.
Port Ohope Yacht Club gets four O’pen Skiffs
Port Ohope Yacht Club has received four new O’pen Skiff boats, thanks to a generous donation from the Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy Trust (BoPSAT).
In a social media post, the club expressed its gratitude to the trust and said it was looking forward to putting the new boats to good use.
Lexia Cup back in Gisborne
The 78-year-old Lexia Cup has been returned to Gisborne Yacht Club by Englishwoman Dr Jenny Forbes.
The trophy was awarded in perpetuity to her late father, Dr Robert Forbes, after he won it three consecutive times from 1947 to 1949.
Forbes took the cup to Britain in 1951, where it remained until his daughter returned it, fulfilling his long-held wish.
Raft-up light on wind, big on learning
The Heretaunga Boating Club’s junior harbour cruise and raft-up took place on March 29, giving Learn to Sail kids a chance to experience sailing on a keeler.
Despite a lack of wind, the event was still a success with a short sail and raft-up at Somes Island.
Plimmerton Boating Club turns 100
Plimmerton Boating Club celebrated its 100th anniversary over the weekend with a series of events that honoured the club’s legacy and community.
The weekend opened with a welcome from the whānau of founding patron Sir Māui Pōmare. Highlights included a fishing competition, a formal luncheon with Porirua mayor Anita Baker, and a cake-cutting by 98-year-old life member Mary Casey.
Saturday night featured live music and dancing, while Sunday brought the return of the historic ‘Sniffers’ rowing race, attended by local MP Barbara Edmonds. The celebrations wrapped up with brunch, sailing, and a well-attended community open afternoon.
Club leaders expressed gratitude for the strong community turnout and support, calling it “one to go down in history.”
Firebug regatta biggest in 20 years
Pleasant Point Yacht Club hosted the largest Firebug Regatta in 20 years, with 27 boats racing over April 5-6.
Sailors aged 12 to 70 competed, with a 50/50 gender split and strong South Island representation, including boats from Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club.
The senior division was won by the oldest boat in the fleet, and five races were completed despite light winds. Alex Fletcher claimed overall honours.
Naval Point Club library now open
Naval Point Club Lyttelton has welcomed its latest addition – the Lyttel Library.
The library is described as a “treasure trove dedicated to the wonders of the sea, the art of navigation and the rich history of maritime adventures”.
It features 2000 books spanning centuries of maritime knowledge and storytelling, catalogued by club volunteers.
The impressive collection includes everything from shipbuilding techniques to modern oceanography, the club said.
