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

January marks time when the central region will host the Optisail 3-day live-in fun camps at Titahi Bay Boating Club in Wellington 27-28-29 January 2014 and at the New Plymouth Yacht Club 22-23-24 January 2014 and the all new East Coast Juniorsail to be held at the Wairoa Yacht Club 21-22-23 January 2014.

The NZL Sailing Team features strongly in the finalists named for the 51st Westpac Halberg Awards. Two double-handed sailing crews - Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, and Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – are up against the All Blacks (Rugby), Black Sox (Softball) and Men’s Pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing) for Team of the Year. And Nathan Handley is one of four finalists for Coach of the Year – the others include Eddie Kohlhase (Softball), Guy Wilson (Golf), and Steve Hansen (Rugby).

NEXT MONTH – registration on the 21st January is coming up fast. Have you got your entry in?

With just over 260 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships the Notice of Race has been published. Santander will be a hive of sailing activity from 8-21 September 2014 with all ten Olympic events racing for World Championship glory and Olympic qualification.

The 2014-15 ISAF Offshore Special Regulations have been published on the ISAF website with an amendment sheet outlining changes in the new edition. The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations (www.sailing.org/specialregs) are used by race organisers to provide uniform minimum equipment, accommodation and training standards for monohull and multihull yachts racing offshore.

Mark your diary with this year’s Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race on Thursday 17th April 2014.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has started formalised planning for a One Ton Cup Revisited regatta in Auckland, in February/March 2015.

Volvo Cars NZ and Yachting New Zealand are pleased to share an update to the previous discount offers on Volvo Cars... have a look at the savings to be had on 2014 models of Volvo Cars. Save up to 12% on selected models in the Volvo range and at the same time, Volvo Cars New Zealand will make a donation to your club*.

The first clinic has come and gone with a full subscription... why not get stuck into an intensive training clinic before the Hansa class National Championships? The next clinic will be 14 February in Waitara, ahead of the Waitara Regatta on Feb 15/16.