ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao threw out big breeze, strong gusts and wild waves as racing at the opening event of the 2013-14 ISAF Sailing World Cup began. A wind shift ahead of racing brought a strong northerly breeze that took the world's finest Olympic sailing talent close to the limits. Wind speeds in between 20-23 knots and gusts up to 30 knots made for exciting racing for the 131 sailors from 24 countries spread across the Laser, Laser Radial, Men's and Women's 470 and Men's and Women's RS:X fleets.

The sole New Zealand representative to compete at 2013 Semaine Olympique Franciase Regatta for Olympic class sailors in La Rochelle, France has come away with a silver medal. Kiwi RS:X windsurfer Natalia Kosinska won today’s medal race to pass France’s Eugenie Ricard and stand on the second step of the podium at the final 2013 EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup regatta which has just wrapped up at La Rochelle.

After spending the winter in the operating theatre at the hands of a skilled team of Noakes’ surgeons, Sean Langman’s Orma 60 trimaran has been re-launched ahead of a busy summer. The crew of Team Australia has just one week to test its new lifting prop, new rig and trimmer shape before six men, most of the same crew from the trimaran’s express run to Hobart back in February, will attempt to set an official Trans-Tasman speed record from Sydney to Auckland.

The entry list for 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will feature at least three reigning Olympic class world champions giving local and international sailors the opportunity to rub shoulders with, and compete against the world’s best.

Yachting New Zealand is looking to appoint a new Coach Development Manager. We did not appoint anyone after the initial application period and are now accepting applications for this position.

The Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with Volvo Cars as the premier sponsor of the two-day event. New Zealand’s largest centreboard event and one of the most respected sailing events in Australasia, the Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta takes place annually in the first weekend of December.

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.

The Yachting New Zealand Board of Directors will welcome Rodger Kerr-Newell (Board President), Greg Knowles (Board Member) and John Cobb (Board Member) at the up-coming Annual General Meeting. But two further positions remain open on the YNZ Board of Directors for appointed positions (not elected). The Board would welcome individuals with strong marketing experience and women passionate about yachting to address the female void that will be created with Jan Dawson’s departure. If you know of someone who fits the bill this is your opportunity to actively influence the future direction of your sport.

Look no further for a vessel to race in the Coastal Classic this year, the New Zealand Sailing Trust has crew places available for people keen to experience Maxi yacht sailing. Sir Peter Blake’s iconic Round the World yacht, Lion New Zealand, will be racing from Auckland to Russell on the 25th October 2013. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to experience team racing on a maxi yacht. Participants do not need prior experience but should expect to be completely hands on and great team members working hard to achieve the best possible time.

One of the themes to come out of this year’s entry list in the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, is new entrants to the fleet setting out to achieve great things. But we aren’t talking about the newest, most high tech or grand prix yachts.