Firstly, we wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year! And follow up with a bit of an update… It has been a rather different time for us the last few months, it’s been crazily busy, but not so much the sailing and training busy that we are used to. We have visited countless schools and yacht clubs all over New Zealand, been to rather a few school prize givings, numerous corporate events, a few sports award evenings and even met some royals! Our medals have passed through thousands of hands, and overall it has all been rather a bit of a whirlwind end of the year!

New Zealand’s only ISAF Grade 1 Olympic and Paralympic Class regatta is just three weeks away: from 2-5 February 2013, Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will take place on the Waitemata Harbour.

This race coach course will be run at RPNYC over the first 3 monday nights in February. 4th February 5-9pm, 11th February 5-9pm, 18th February 5-9pm

Hundreds more Wellington children are now experiencing ocean water sports in their own backyard … Wellington Harbour. Through a KiwiSport-funded programme, the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (RPNYC) is delivering a two-hour ocean water sports introduction in either keelboat sailing, dinghy sailing, kayaking, waka ama or windsurfing to at least 1250 school children during this summer.

Here’s a look at the up-coming sailing related events around the country for the next couple of weeks. See the YNZ on-line calendar for full details of these events and those on later in January and beyond. Are you organising an event you would like to see included? Don’t miss out on some free promotion for your sailing events by adding them to the YNZ on-line calendar here.

Just two weeks remain to get your entry sorted for Oceanbridge Sail Auckland- registrations close on Friday 25 January! We have the link for you to register online now, and more info on the travel subsidy.

Talented young up and comer Leonard Takahashi-Fry, representing the Wanganui/Manawatu region has secured the 2013 Tanner Cup in trying conditions. Cameron Moss from North Harbour was second with Cole Rippey, from Bay of Plenty, third. Nelson Yacht Club is playing host to the prestigious Tanner and Tauranga Cup Regattas this week with uncharacteristic weather playing its part in the regional Tanner Cup event which was sailed over Sunday and Monday.

Napier Sailing Club is again running the Boaters and Blazers Chase as a part of the Art Deco Week held annually in Napier. The date is set for Saturday 16th February. Last year’s inaugural event drew 70 competitors in a wide range of sail boats dating from 1930s dinghies to latest cats and keelers. This year entries include Idle Alongs, a Dragon, a couple of X Class and a Silver Fern all dating pre 1950.

The accolades and reward continue to come for our 2012 Olympic sailing medallists with two exciting announcements over the Christmas period. Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie were included in the New Year’s Honours list each recognised with the MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to sailing, alongside all of New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic gold medallists.

Poole, Great Britain is set to welcome a stellar cast of Paralympic and both able-bodied and disabled Worlds medallists when it hosts one of the most unique sailing events on the international racing calendar this year - the International 2.4 Metre class Open World Championships.