A good, fast sprint with a high chance of a record is forecast for this week's Coastal Classic Auckland to Russell Yacht Race, particularly for the boats that will lead the pack. The wind forecasting site PredictWind.com is suggesting that the boats will encounter a strong 25knot South West breeze off the start at 10am on Friday, moderating that night, a scenario that will see most boats hoist brightly coloured spinnakers or gennakers off the waters of the North Shore, and depart the Hauraki Gulf quick smart.

Sunday 14 October saw Manly Sailing Club hosting the Hibiscus Coast Youth Regatta. After the north westerly gale that wreaked havoc over Auckland and much of the country on Saturday the forecast at 0700 Sunday was for 18-20kts decreasing in the afternoon. However what was forecast and what happened were not quite the same. The plan to run open fleet races out of Big Manly Bay in clear winds were scotched 10min into the first race when winds were averaging in the high 20knots range forcing racing into the Bay in flatter water.

NZL Sailing Team sailor and 2012 Radial representative in London, Sara Winther reflects on her Olympic debut and thanks her supporters… The Olympic Games was an experience like no other. You plan and prepare for an event like this by talking to people who have been there and done it, but I now know that until you actually live and experience it for yourself that you don’t truly realize what it is like.

The sailing season has begun and it’s time to set some goals to improve your skills... why not get stuck into an intensive training clinic for Paralympic Classes at Wanaka next month? The dates have been set for November 23-25 ... so get your registrations in and start planning.

Followers of the NZMYC Coastal Classic: put forward your best guesstimate of the winning time in next Friday's race, and be in to win a trip for you and a friend aboard Steinlager II. The NZ Sailing Trust was originally established for the preservation of Lion New Zealand. It has now grown with the recent acquisition of Steinlager 2. Sir Peter Blake took the lessons learned from the 85-86 race with Lion NZ and applied all of it into the design and build of Steinlager 2. She became a world class competitor winning every Whitbread leg over the line and on handicap, a record still standing today.

RAYC is hosting another Advanced Sea Survival Course before the Around White Island Race. Date: 17-18 November Times: Saturday from 0830, Sunday – early! Where: RAYC Cost: $395 per person includes morning/afternoon tea and a light lunch

The Yachting New Zealand AGM is scheduled for this coming Saturday, 13th October at 11:30am at the RPNYC in Wellington. Morning tea will be available during registration from 11am. Members are asked to confirm their attendance by Friday. Email Beth to let her know you are coming.

Whether you’re already coaching and wanting to up-skill or want to get started by learning how to deliver Learn to Sail Yachting New Zealand has a range of courses available around the country. Here’s a look at what is on in the next couple of weeks. See yachtingnz.org.nz for more information about the full range of courses on offer.

Just who will be named 2012 Orbit Corporate Travel Sailor of the Year won’t be unveiled until Friday November 23rd, but we now know who is in the running. Yachting New Zealand has revealed the list of 2012 Performance, Service and Cruising Award Winners, the winner of the Emerging Talent Award and a short-list of finalists for both the Young Sailor of the Year and the Coach/Official of the Year.

PM Scholarships 2012: YNZ Endorsement Guidelines: Prime Minister’s (PM) Scholarships assist athletes who seek to do well on the international stage in Olympic class competition and also gain a tertiary level education. PM Scholarships are managed by Sport New Zealand however Yachting New Zealand will be required to endorse and then rank applicants. This year Yachting New Zealand will be looking at the following when assessing how to rank or endorse sailors’ applications for a PM Scholarship.