Nacra17 multihull campaigners Jason Saunders and Gemma Jones report in on the recent Nacra17 World Championships, where they placed 9th and what’s on next… We are back in New Zealand again and recovering from a hard Europe trip and a bit of jet-lag! It’s been a successful trip and we are both very happy with how things panned out.

Finals rounds got underway today at the 2013 470 World Championships with the La Rochelle venue testing sailors with more challenging conditions on day three of the six day long regatta. Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (pictured) are now in 2nd place in the Men’s fleet; Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie are lying 6th in Women’s. Racing was in 8-14 knots of unstable breeze with strong tidal currents and a choppy sea.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 1988 Bi-Centenary Around Australia Race (08/08/1988), Ocean Events is pleased to announce that the inaugural ‘Ocean Race Around Australia’ will go ahead in 2014. Ocean Events invites mono and multihull boats from Australia and around the world to join the inaugural ‘Ocean Race Around Australia’.

Infinity Racing are currently in Sweden, racing in the Lysekil Women’s Match, the final regatta of the Women’s International Match Racing Series. After a very impressive weigh in we had a day on the water to familiarise ourselves with the boats and our team.

Day two of the 2013 470 World Championships has drawn to a close with the qualifying rounds complete and both NZL Sailing Team crews are well placed as they carry forward their ranking to the finals rounds which kick off in La Rochelle, France tomorrow.

Ports of Auckland has signed up as the new naming rights sponsor for the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. “The Regatta, like the port, is as old as Auckland. The first Auckland Regatta was held on the day the city was founded in 1840, 11 years before the first America’s Cup race. We have a connection with the Regatta both through this history and the Waitematā harbour we share, which makes it the perfect event for us to support,” Chief Executive Tony Gibson said.

PIC Insurance Brokers takes Coastal Classic yacht race onboard An independent New Zealand insurance brokerage with strong connections to the marine industry is the Coastal Classic’s new major sponsor. The iconic race, which is recognised as one of the world’s ‘must do’ sailing events, will now be called the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic.

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have the early lead in the Women’s fleet at the 2013 470 World Championships while NZL Sailing Team team-mates Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox have also started strongly to hold 3rd in the Men’s.

Yachting New Zealand is seeking contact details for the Lotus Owners Association. If anyone can help please email us at YNZ Reception.

Markus Somerville and Jack Simpson from Auckland’s Wakatere Boating Club have won silver at the 2013 29er class World Championships just finished at Arhus, Denmark. Twenty-five nations representing all continents sailed at the 2013 29er World Championships with 213 entries (426 sailors) in a highly competitive fleet. The 29er is a two-handed skiff which is a pre-cursor class to the Olympic 49er skiff sailed by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.