Sailors from all over New Zealand descended upon Wellington this past weekend for the Seaview Sails and Rigging Starling North Island Championships regatta for 2013, held in Eastbourne and hosted by the Muritai Yacht Club. Held over three days in what can only be described as boat and sailor breaking conditions, over 50 competitors took to the water in their singlehanded dinghies to contest the nine race series. The regatta was a closely fought contest, with most of the top positions not decided until the final race.

The M Class association with the support of Hyundai Motors New Zealand and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club are proud to announce the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of M-Class yacht racing. The 2012/13 season will mark 90 uninterrupted seasons of racing on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour for the iconic M-Class, affectionately known as the ‘Emmy’.

January 7-9th, CBYC welcomed 52 Optimist sailors of all ages and abilities to the annual Junior Sailing Camp. I went along to help out and see what was going on at the club for the 1st 2 days. The 2 days threw a mixture of conditions with winds blowing 0-30 knots and most directions. But the sun continued to shine and warm weather was had for all.

Peter Burling is not the only kiwi showing them how it’s done across the Tasman – Nick Egnot-Johnson has finished at the top of the leader-board at the 2013 Australian Optimist National Championship Regatta where a fleet of 130 sailors were racing in the Open division.

This race coach course will be held at Wakatere Boating club on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th February. 8th February 5-9pm. 9th February 9am-5pm. Bring along; Your laptop or a notebook to take notes, Sailing gear (the Saturday you will sail and be on the coach boat doing some practical elements of the course).

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is getting closer and closer - January 23 -24 - 25, 2013 – and entries are still coming in. Take a look at your potential competition and DO IT. The Bay of Islands is a natural sailing and racing venue. To enjoy a variety of competition you don’t have to cross the Tasman, it’s in your own back yard. Join us for the fun three day regatta.

Peter Burling has cleaned up the 2013 Australian Moth Championships Regatta held over the last week at the Wangi RSL Sailing Club, north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. During the 15 race series staged over six days, Burling dominated the fleet winning no less than ten of those races. He only finished outside the top six in just one race and concluded the regatta 14 points clear of second place-getter Scott Babbage. Reigning world champion in the Moth Joshua McKnight finished third.

Radio controlled sailing isn't just for retired yachtsmen: the current generation of America's-Cup pros are also enjoying the challenges of racing miniature boats, and Wattle Farm in Manurewa is one of the best venues in New Zealand for the purpose.

The 47th Black Heart Hartley 16 Nationals to be held in New Plymouth next week are ready to go with 23 boats entered coming from Whangarei, Auckland, Napier and New Plymouth.

The official event website has been launched for the 2013 Finn Gold Cup to be held in Tallinn, Estonia from August 23-31. www.finngoldcup.org/2013 The Finn Gold Cup will be the fourth world championship for an Olympic sport hosted in Estonia. The Finn class previously sailed its very successful 1994 Gold Cup at Pärnu, and the event website includes a video of that event, together with an interview with the winner, a very young Fredrik Lööf (SWE), who of course captured the Star Gold medal at last year’s Olympic Games.