In mid April, the NZ Access Class Association’s two 303’s (available with thanks to AMP) moved to their new home – at the lake ‘outpost’ of the Wanganui Sailing Club. With support from the Class Association, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, Sailability Taranaki Volunteers and YNZ Staff, there is now the potential for one more club to become accessible next season.

Racing at the Americas Cup World Series event in Naples wrapped up today with what organisers call “Super Sunday” - a final fleet race that is worth triple points. That sets the scene for what is essentially a winner-takes-all last fleet race. Emirates Team New Zealand’s winning streak from yesterday did not continue and the team had to settle for 6th place, finishing the fleet racing championship third overall, behind Luna Rossa Swordfish and Oracle Team USA.

Despite some very wet weather twelve sailors took to the water aiming to get their name on the Waller Cup; Sailability Auckland's Regional Championship held on April 20 & 21. After years of trying, John Toole finally got his name on the cup!

There was extensive surface flooding across the coastal Bay of Plenty over the weekend. “We can assume that all flood water is potentially contaminated with farm run-off, faecal matter from feral and domestic animals, and, in some cases, sewage,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack. There are potential health risks associated with contaminated flood water and the Medical Officer of Health has provided the following advice to help prevent illness in the community.

Helena Horswell gives us her insight from the 2013 Access Class Asia Pacific Championships: I had been told that last time a kiwi contingent went to an Access Class event here, there was a huge problem with weed in the lake, but apart from the rather murky colour, the only issue this time was the low level, causing berthing issues at the dock for Libertys and Skuds.

Recent crew changes haven't stopped the steam train that is the NZ Blind Sailing Worlds Team, deep in preparation with just one training camp left before the 2013 IFDS Blind Fleet Racing World and International Championships next month.

Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) is proud to announce the 2014 Sail Fiji offshore yacht race with confirmed 2014 dates for the classic Auckland to Fiji ocean race and passage cruise rally.The Cruising Rally will start from Monday the second of June 2014 and the Premier Race will start on Saturday the 7th of June 2014.

A tough contingent of Australians will meet a brilliant but lone majority New Zealand crew for the ANZAC long weekend running of stage two of the TP52 Southern Cross Cup at Sandringham Yacht Club, April 26-28. Australian and New Zealand comrades will be honoured this coming ANZAC Day for fighting side-by-side, a tradition which began on the bloody shores of Gallipoli during WWI. In keeping with the modern day rivalry between the two great sporting nations eight TP52s will square off on the waters of Port Phillip in Victoria the following day to begin the quest for the series’ perpetual trophy.

Racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres is underway with day one of the six day regatta now drawing to a close in Hyeres, France. A solid team of kiwi campaigners are competing including 14 entries across six events including the Laser, Finn, 49er, 49erFX, Men’s 470 and Nacra17. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox have opened with an almost faultless performance in the Men’s 470 class to top the 63 strong fleet after day one of qualifying, sailed in light winds off Hyeres.

There's plenty on with the active Elliott 5.9 Fleet: the 2013 Nationals have just concluded, in this update you can find info on the upcoming traveller series, new boat owners, 2014 Nationals, equipment available and more...