More than 85 generous New Zealanders have already come together to raise $20,000 + for the young team online through thrillpledge (thanks!), and there's still another $20,000 left. Did you know that the entry fee alone is $35,000 USD?

I have just returned home from my 100-day stint overseas, competing in seven events during that time in Oman, Europe and the UK. It was an awesome time made up of top quality competitions, solid weeks of training with foreigners, and some great times had with mates on the circuit.

Taking out today’s medal race at the 2013 470 European Championships in Formia, Italy the NZL Sailing Team women’s 470 pair of Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have secured the Silver Medal. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox have finished 8th overall in the Men’s Open 470 European Championship – another strong result for this new partnership.

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie will head into the final day of the 2013 470 European Championships in 3rd place and looking good for a medal, but with a challenge on to make it silver or gold. New Zealand will also be represented in the Men’s medal race with Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (pictured above) sailing away with a win today and lying 7th overall. The regatta, which has attracted a full contingent of the world’s best Olympic campaigners in the double-handed 470 class, has just one day to run in Formia, Italy. Conditions were light at the venue today and after a postponement just one race was possible.

WRIGHTY my world, my boats, and eighty years is the autobiographical story of Alan Wright, New Zealand’s most popular keelboat designer. The book begins with Alan Wright’s childhood years in Auckland and then on the family farm at Ngatea, building tin canoes, sailing P Class on the Piako River, his boatbuilding apprenticeship at the Naval Dockyard and his experiences in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Race Officials make a huge contribution to Yacht Clubs around New Zealand. Whether it’s helping out with local club racing or running an International regatta, neither would be possible without dedicated Race Officials. Recently qualified or revalidated are…

Sam Meech has secured his first EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup victory winning gold in the Laser class at the 2013 Sail for Gold Regatta which has just wrapped up in Weymouth, England. New Zealand featured twice in the top four of the Laser fleet with Andy Maloney finishing just outside the podium places in 4th.

A Fundraising Cocktail Evening to be hosted at Emirates Team New Zealand base in Halsey Street, Viaduct Harbour will raise funds for the five young kiwis selected to represent New Zealand at the 2013 Optimist World Championships.

Young NZL Sailing Team Laser campaigner, Sam Meech looks good for a gold medal provided he can sail a clean race in tomorrow’s Laser medal race at 2013 Sail for Gold Regatta drawing to a close in Weymouth England tomorrow.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust’s 55m tall ship Lord Nelson, which was purpose-built to be sailed by physically disabled and able-bodied people, is sailing around the world. This is the first time that an accessible tall ship has undertaken such a journey.