Many of our yacht clubs operate slipways. Slipways, when not operated correctly can be dangerous. As a result of an incident on Auckland’s North Shore earlier this year, where three people were badly hurt, Maritime New Zealand have release a list of recommendations about safe management of slipways. Clubs should read the following story and ensure that their procedure take in to account the recommendations.

Sport NZ has just released a new resource called the Good Practice Principles for the Provision of Sport and Recreation for Young People. Anyone delivering, working-in, or planning sport programmes that involve young people will find this useful.

YNZ has issued an amendment to the YNZ Safety Regulations of Sailing 2013-2016. They are as follows:

On the eve of the 17th 49er World Championship and 1st ever 49erFX World Championship, the city of Marseille eagerly anticipates a great battle.

On Sunday the 22nd August the Pakuranga Sailing Club had their final races in the clubs’ winter series.

The Stack Winter Champs 2013, which mark the end of winter training, and the official start of the summer season, include two days of high performance coaching, before the regatta begins. Youth sailors from all clubs are invited.

New Zealand’s only ISAF 100 Point regatta in 2014 is pleased to again offer a travel subsidy to help Kiwi sailors from outside the Auckland Region take part in this world class event. New for this year, the offering has been extended past the Olympic and Paralympic classes, now including the Youth classes too.

With the summer approaching it is a good time of year to look at your yacht’s safety gear.

The dates for Napier's New Year Regatta have been set: 2nd – 4th January 2014. This regatta tends to be very low key in terms of advertising etc, but let us know if you might be keen to join us, and I will keep you up to date with info as it becomes available.

Team Kiwi Gold (David Barnes, Rick Dodson and co) report on their last few days at the Sonar World Championships which came to a close on 22 September... Lots of rain and no wind stopped the Kiwi Gold Sailing Team getting any racing in on Saturday. Almost in direct reflection of the goings on In San Francisco with the AC34.