Six weeks out from the Coastal Classic we look at some of the new and notable boats likely to grace the fleet for the great race north.

New Zealand match racing team FMJ Racing - Will Tiller, Brad Farrand, Harry Thurston and Jono Spurdle - have taken out the Oakcliff Invitational in Oyster Bay to win the last two events on the Grand Slam Series.

Regional Sports Associations in both Auckland and Waikato are currently calling for nominations for their respective annual Sports Awards…

Youth sailors are encouraged to register now for Yachting New Zealand’s popular National Youth Clinics.

The International Sailing Federation is pleased to announce the publication of The Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016 on the ISAF website and as an iOS application.

March 2013 will see the return of the Auckland Regatta. The event will take place 22-25 March 2013 on the Hauraki Gulf.

The 29er class is currently going through a resurgence, with 10-12 boats sailing together in Auckland. With more crews keen to join the action, the class is keen to locate any 29ers which might be sitting in garages or yacht clubs around the countryside which could be offered for sale or loan to new entrants to the class.

NZ was well represented at the London 2012 Paralympic Sailing competition and the outcomes of this event were much more significant than just final results; the three sailors were ground breakers in the modern New Zealand sailing community with regards to inclusion of sailors with a disability. Not only were they the first sailors to represent NZ at this level in twelve years, but Jan was the first female, and together they represented a paradigm shift in the NZL Sailing Team in terms of Paralympic inclusion high performance programmes.

2013 celebrates 50th Flying Fifteen New Zealand National Championship. Planning for the Regatta and Anniversary Reunion Prize Giving Dinner is underway and details will be posted on www.flying15.org.nz as they are finalized.

The sun finally showed its face on the penultimate day of sailing at the London 2012 Paralympic Sailing competition, and the New Zealand competitors have maintained their status quo with results hovering around the top ten.