Over the summer school holidays the Otago Yachting Association (OYA) ran a very successful Breakaway Sailing Programme over a period of four weeks. The programme ran one week prior to Christmas then recommenced for three weeks in January starting on the 7th January.

It has been another busy start to the season for our Sailing... Have a Go! programme. During term four 2012, 1475 students took part in the programme with more than 70% expressing an interest in learning to sail.

Three young sailors from three different yacht clubs in New South Wales and Tasmania today combined to gain an impressive early lead on day one of the prestigious Hardy Cup Under 25 ISAF Grade 3 match racing regatta on Sydney Harbour.

Emirates Team New Zealand today unveiled its second AC72 with a low-key ceremony at the team’s Viaduct Harbour, Auckland, base. Barely six months after the team’s first AC72 catamaran started testing the second boat was ready for the water, another significant milestone accomplished as the team prepares for its challenge for the 34th America’s Cup.

Conditions on Auckland harbour were less than obliging for the competitors on day three of Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, allowing only six of the fifteen classes to get on the water. Three races were sailed by the Lasers, Laser Radials, 470, 420, Finn, while the kiteboards sailed four in winds of 20 knots gusting to 30.

Auckland's Anniversary Regatta on 28 January gave everything a sailor could want: A clean easterly breeze that provided plenty of speed for most of the course. A sea with just enough chop to keep it interesting. And a diverse and interesting fleet to race against.

The new summer regatta at Port Ohope Yacht Club really hit the ground running and hosted a great fleet of over 30 centre boarder’s competing in light winds and warm temperatures. A large contingent travelled from Gisborne and Wairoa as part of a closer relationship between the three clubs in supporting each other’s club regattas. The fleet comprising lasers, optimists, firebugs, toppers, sunbursts, and even the newly purchased IA Class of Bruce Kenyon from Wairoa looking very flash with it’s all vanish hull.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron sailor Jordan Reece has sailed back into calculations in the Hardy Cup on Sydney Harbour with four wins from four flights on a day of restricted sailing in light winds. Reece, who is competing as the Estate Master Sailing Team powered by Etihad Airways, was the top helmsman today in an unfinished second round-robin in the Under 21 ISAF Grade 3 match racing regatta.

This salty blog was penned for us by Carl Reinsfield of Pterodactyl (Birdsall 39). Below he tells his tale of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s Tauranga to Whitianga 2013 sailed Saturday 26th January. Or you could just check out the video.

West Australian sailor David Gilmour this week will attempt to become only the third helmsman to win the Hardy Cup Under 25 ISAF Grade 3 Match Racing Regatta on Sydney Harbour more than once.