The July 2012 issue (No 141) of the International Finn Association's magazine FINNFARE has just been published and includes reports and results from the Finn Gold Cup and World Masters as well as an in-depth preview of the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition.

With races running every two years and a brand new fleet for clipper 2013-2014, maybe its time you should apply to be a skipper. Do you have a RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or IYT Master of Yacht Ocean and the highest level of safety and seamanship? Apply now.

The next event on the busy Elliott 5.9 Calendar is the Onerahi Sprints. The NOR is available by contacting Simon Manning with the class association.The 2013 Nationals will be part of Auckland BMW Race Week in March 2013.

"Since the last update, I managed to get a good two weeks training in Weymouth with the GBR Team." Read more of Sara Winther's last update before she represents NZ at the 2012 London Olympic Games in the Laser Radial

French Bay Yacht Club has a lot to celebrate this year; like the fact that membership has grown by 66% this season, and 65 boats at the club's annual regatta. A team of up-and-coming youths competed in the Starling National Championships. That our very own Jim Quinn was named Counties Manukau Masters Sportsperson of the Year, and that the club is, officially once again, thriving, with participation levels back to where they were well over a decade ago.

Getting your sailing events online now is easier than ever before. Yachting New Zealand has developed a new calendar with the website that is fully searchable by boat type and region. All you have to do is fill in a form online and it will go through a quick approval process at YNZ before going live on the main calendar, and the ones that can be found through each club's page and each class association's page.

Sailing is a very adaptive sport that everybody can get something out of. Whether it is intense racing, sailing around the world, or just an afternoon picnic cruise, sailing is a sport to be enjoyed by everybody!

Saturday 18 August is the perfect opportunity to clean out your cupboards/garage of all your old sailing gear. Support the RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme by donating your pre-loved, unused, too small or too big sailing gear.

FMJ Racing have won the O.M. Match Race for 2012! This is the teams third victory in a row and a great way to end our European tour.

At the conclusion of the 2011/2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders in the Men’s 470 and Andy Maloney in the Laser have landed on the podium.

2nd Men’s 470- Paul Snow Hansen and Jason Saunders