Five Hansa Dinghies were a feature of the Napier Sailing Club New Year Regatta in early January, with five dinghies taking to the start line in challenging conditions.

In addition to offering the entry fee subsidy for sailors in the Hansa 303 and Liberty fleets, Yachting New Zealand is extending their offerings to out of town volunteers working on the Paralympic and Hansa course at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland 2014.

In support of growing the competition and national participation levels of disabled sailors at Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, Yachting New Zealand is offering an entry fee rebate for out of Auckland sailors in the Hansa 303 and Liberty classes.

New Zealand extend a commanding lead over Australia in the 2014 12' skiff Interdominions on now at Worser Bay Boating Club in Wellington, after a race day packed with drama, incident and very tight racing. Wellington's 'nuking' winds brought chaos and another lead change, as a third competitor puts one hand on one of dinghy sailing's most desirable trophies.

The 2014 Youth Olympic Games is on in Nanjing, China in August next year and will feature sailing in the Techno 293 windsurfer and the Byte CII single-handed dinghy for both male and female. To be eligible to participate in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games athletes must have been born between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1999.

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 beyond that. Are you organising an event you would like to see included? Don’t miss out on some free promotion for your sailing events by adding them to the YNZ on-line calendar here.

Mid February’s Volvo National Sailing & Boating Day is shaping up to be a nationwide phenomenon. Our What’s happening, and where? page now features close to 40 Clubs from all around the country with details of a wide range of events planned for Sunday February 16th and registrations from Clubs are still being accepted.

On 21 January 1939, 75 years ago, four bach owners met at Gerald Anderson’s place at Paradise Bay to consider the formation of a yacht club on their side of Lyttelton Harbour. The Charteris Bay Yacht Club opened the following weekend on 28 January 1939 and on the 29th January 1939 the first race was sailed under the club’s banner.

It's now known as Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, and it is one of the biggest regattas in the world, hosted by 17 different yacht and watersports clubs, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and with events at locations throughout Auckland. For those that don't have a boat, it's an opportunity for a relaxing day watching events unfold on the harbor, and the best viewing locations for landlubbers are Bastion Point, North Head, East Coast Bays, Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf, and Princes Wharf.

The 2014 NZL Sailing Team was launched by Yachting New Zealand today at a function in Auckland attended by team supporters and media.