In just 11 short months, Royal Akarana Yacht Club will fire the starting gun for the 22nd Auckland to Fiji race, Sail Fiji. Already the interest for this race has been overwhelming, with big names such as Australian entrant, Lahana (formally Konica Minolta), Steinlager 2 and Lion New Zealand putting their hands up for the tropical challenge. Ed Psaltis, one of the three owners of AFR Midnight Rambler also from Australia, has also put forward his expression of interest for the race.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have sealed the deal today taking out the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships in Arhus Denmark. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech also secured a podium finish taking bronze in the 49erFX European Championship, with a further two top nine results for New Zealand including 5th for Natalia Kosinska at the RS:X European Championships and 9th for Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski in the 49er fleet.

Yachting New Zealand’s President Jan Dawson is among the finalists for the upcoming inaugural Women in Governance Awards were announced today Women on Boards New Zealand (WOBNZ) CEO Lesley Whyte.

New Zealand Olympic class sailors have taken a step closer to the podium as three kiwi crews get set for the final day of racing at their respective 2013 European Championships lying in the top three. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke still lead at the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships in Arhus, Denmark while Alex Maloney and Molly Meech end the penultimate day of the 49erFX fleet lying 3rd overall. Meanwhile Natalia Kosinska is in 2nd, but on equal points with the leader, at the 2013 RS:X Womens’ European Championships at Brest, France.

A group of young kiwis have been lining up across the ditch at the 2013 OAMPS Insurance Brokers QLD Youth Week and two have come out on top of their fleets. Young Timaru sailor Cullen Le Roy has won the Laser Radial division and Leonard Takahashi Fry from Murray’s Bay Sailing Club in Auckland has won the Optimist Open fleet at the regatta sailed at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Yacht Club between 2nd and 6th July.

New Zealand’s Olympic silver medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have taken the overall lead at the end of day four at the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships on in Arhus, Denmark. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech retain 3rd in the Women’s 49erFX fleet racing at the same venue.

New Zealand sailors are in 2nd, 3rd and 9th overall as the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships hit the midway mark and the standings continue to change dramatically day to day as nearly all crews struggled for consistency in light winds on day three at Arhus, Denmark today. Today’s official report from Denmark says; “A tricky day with the light wind forcing fleets to hold ashore, until the breeze filled in enough for racing. But only the lightest of breezes filled in, with puffs occasionally getting above six knots.”

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes’ Commission.

What a difference a day can make – at the end of day two New Zealand now leads the 2013 SAP 49er European Championships with a further two kiwi crews placed in the top five across the Men’s and Women’s racing.

Ahoy all our sponsors and supporters! We would love you see you all at our fund-raising BBQ happening on Saturday 6th July. The crew will be cooking up a storm, outside the eastern entrance of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, of delicious sausages with caramelized onions for $2 and mouth watering gourmet steak sandwiches for $5 to prepare you for the winter racing! All proceeds will go towards helping us get to our regatta in Lysekil, Sweden, so come and grab a bite to eat before you head to your boat and make sure you bring all your crew along too!