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Our four NZCT regional development managers bring you the latest news from around the country - including a new fundraising initiative that could be a game-changer.
The Kiwi Cup is spearheaded by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and supported by Emirates Team New Zealand, Live Sail Die and Yachting New Zealand.
The Kiwi Cup to help sailing dreams come true
A working safety boat engine in Gulf Harbour and new O'pen Skiff sails in Plimmerton, to assisting in flood recovery efforts in Wairoa and helping a solo offshore sailor make it to the start line in France.
These are a few of the things the country's largest yacht club, in partnership with arguably our most esteemed sailing team, is hoping to facilitate through an exciting new initiative.
Led by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and supported by Emirates Team New Zealand, Yachting New Zealand, and Live Sail Die, the Kiwi Cup is designed to raise funds for yacht clubs, class associations, and sailing teams.
Participants have the opportunity to win substantial prizes from a prize pool exceeding $40,000.
Raffle tickets are priced at $20 each and will be available for purchase from today (May 1) until July 20. The raffle draw will take place on July 29, 2024, with prizes ranging from Emirates Team New Zealand and RNZYS merchandise to a trip for two to Barcelona to witness the 37th America’s Cup, including flights, accommodation, and more.
Participants can select a cause to support, with $10 from each ticket sale directly benefiting the nominated club, class association, or team. The remaining proceeds will be allocated towards raffle operational costs and the RNZYS' youth training program.
Over 30 clubs, class associations, and sailing teams have already expressed interest, with donated funds designated for various causes.
RNZYS Commodore Andrew Aitken was encouraged by the widespread response to the Kiwi Cup across the country.
"We understand the challenges of fundraising, so it's fantastic to see numerous grassroots clubs and teams participating," Aitken remarked. "With such enticing prizes, we hope to witness the sailing community unite and truly make a difference."
David Abercrombie, chief executive of Yachting New Zealand, commended the RNZYS for their initiative.
"It's inspiring to see our largest yacht club supporting the sailing community in such a innovative manner, and I encourage as many of our members as possible to support the Kiwi Cup," Abercrombie stated.
For more information on the Kiwi Cup or to purchase a raffle ticket, click here.
A new online Introduction to RŪNĀ for Coaches course is now available.
New online RŪNĀ module launched
Yachting New Zealand has launched a new online module to make it easier for coaches to incoporate the popular schools programme RŪNĀ into their lessons.
Alisa Torgersen, Yachting New Zealand's education lead, said the Introduction to RŪNĀ for Coaches course is free and easy-to-understand module offering detailed information on the programme's three modules - Kōrinorino, Kōkōkaha and Moanamana.
"This e-module is for any coaches who will be running RŪNĀ at their club, or who are simply running school groups at their clubs. There is an increasing demand for schools programmes in sailing, and RŪNĀ is a great way for clubs to do it in a structured and safe way that kids will enjoy and schools will approve of," Torgersen said.
"It introduces coaches to the concept of RŪNĀ, what the on-land activities are, how to run an on-water session, as well as some fun activity ideas. It offers advice on how coaches can incorporate the respective modules into the delivery of their sailing experiences and it has lesson plans for teachers to follow in the classroom."
Click here to access the Introduction to RŪNĀ for Coaches course.
The annual race officer conference will take place at Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club. Photo / Jacob Fewtrell Media
Register now for annual race officer conference, training seminars
You can now register for Yachting New Zealand’s annual race officer conference on August 31, 2024, at Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club.
The conference brings together race officers from all levels of experience and serves as a platform to connect, share ideas, and explore innovative approaches to race management.
Register here to secure your place at this one-day conference.
Meanwhile, Yachting New Zealand has also confirmed a series of national race management training seminars on the following dates:
June 8-9: Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club, Wellington.
July 6-7: Venue TBC, Auckland.
Coaching courses start this weekend
A few places are still available at the first of Yachting New Zealand's Learn to Sail (dinghy) coaching courses this weekend.
The courses take place on Saturday and Sunday at two North Island yacht clubs, with six spots up for grabs at Wakatere Boating Club and a single opening for the course at Whangārei Cruising Club.
The entry-level coaching course is ideal for those aged 14 and older. Click here to book your place for the course at Wakatere Boating Club and here for the Whangārei Cruising Clubcourse.
For all courses this winter around the country, check out our course calendar here.
Two tornado catamarans finished within a minute of each other in the annual Whangaroa Race. Photo / Bay of Islands Yacht Club
Fleet spirit prevails in Whangaroa Race
One race, one start line, one destination – the 36 Degrees Brokers Whangaroa Race from the Bay of Islands to Whangaroa embraces both racers and cruisers alike - and the 2024 edition was no exception.
A building southerly breeze propelled the 23-strong fleet up the coast as two tornado catamarans led the 30-mile charge to finish within a minute of each other in the annual race hosted by the Bay of Islands Yacht Club on April 27.
While the race fleets’ tactics saw them roll the dice to go inside, outside, or through the Cavalli Islands, the cruising fleet kept an eye on their watches to stay within the 2-hours allocated motoring time.
And if the impressive raft up at the end was anything to go by, it’s fair to say that camaraderie and team spirit were equal winners on the day.
“It’s just such a cool race and an incredible destination to finish up at. It was good to have a nice blast out there and obviously a real buzz amongst the fleet,” winning tornado skipper Dave Lineham said.
Lineham faced some frustrating conditions at the end of the race alongside fellow skipper Wayne Limbrick, as the breeze died, and a strong outgoing tide made for a painstaking match race to the finish.
“We had tacked and tacked and tacked – I reckon 50-60 times from Flat Island, all it took was a bad tack to stop the boat and sometimes there’s just as much skill in the light stuff keeping the boat moving,” he explains.
Not the only ones to linger in the light conditions after an initial lead, the battle between big and little Ross Boats ensued as Pretty Boy Floyd (Ross 40), skippered by Bill Kidman, also suffered in the fickle finish conditions, watching Black Out (Ross 30) skippered by Kevin Peet, tack along the coastline to take race fleet line honours, finishing in a time of 5 hours and 18 minutes.
This year’s cruising division win went to the Randell family aboard Fast Lady with their youngest crew 4-year-old Jackson calling tactics right into the finish line.
The O'pen Skiff national championships again featured the Bridge of Doom. Photo / Jacob Fewtrell Media
Record fleet, plenty of fun at O'pen Skiff nationals
A record-breaking 88 O’pen Skiff sailors from across the country and abroad converged on the Manly Sailing Club late last month for the class national championships.
Competitors hailing from across the North and South Islands and as far away as India, enjoyed a two-day coaching clinic leading into the event, as well as a panel discussion on a range of topics featuring Yachting New Zealand's women's sailing manager Jenny Armstrong.
Five-time Olympian Barbara Kendall also shared her journey to glory, inspiring the next generation of sailors to have fun, persevere and believe in the impossible.
The on-water action was equally impressive, with sailors confronted with a mix of conditions across three days -as well as the Bridge of Doom.
Reigning under-15 O’pen Skiff world champion Ewan Brazle (Manly Sailing Club) won his third consecutive national title while Elena Keall-Neches (Paremata Boating Club) added the top finish in the girls' division to her 2022 success.
Full results here.
Maraetai Sailing Club hosted 47 boats at the RS Feva national championships. Photo / Live Sail Die
Hyde, Dickey on top in Fevas
Callum Hyde (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) and Jake Dickey (Napier Sailing Club) clinched the RS Feva national championship title with a strong start to the last day at Maraetai Sailing Club in April.
The youth crew won the first two races in light breeze and secured the crown with a third place in the final race of the regatta featuring 47 boats.
The father-son team of David and Cameron Ferris (BOIYC) finished behind Hyde and Dickey on the overall leaderboard, with another youth crew Matteo Barker and Blake Batten (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) third.
Gemma Hebberd and Gretel Satterwaite (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) were the first female crew and 11th overall, followed by Anna Dold and Lola-Jean Hutchens (Royal Akarana Yacht Club, 14th), Maya and Olivia Postrzygacz (Rarotonga Sailing Club, 16th).
Full results here.
Frewin takes keelboat win
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron crews dominated at the 2024 NZ national keelboat championships at Royal Akarana Yacht Club on April 13-14, taking out the top two spots at the event marked by gusts of over 40kn.
Jack Frewin and his LJ's Racing team of Ollie Lloyd, James Jennings, Josh Schon, Blake McGlashan, Pat Morgan and Tasman Rowntree topped the podium in the MRX fleet after a close battle with Josh Hyde's team, who suffered a race disqualification.
The RAYC youth team, led by Eli Liefting, won the youth category, with Leslie Egnot (Kawau Boating Club) triumphing in the women's division.
Full results here.
Flash Gordon won the shorthaul division at the 2024 Anzac Enduro. Photo / Karyn Drummond
Anzac Enduro over in a Flash
Flash Gordon took out the short haul division at the 2024 SSANZ Anzac Enduro in emphatic style, finishing more than 13 minutes faster than its closest rivals Shimmer II and Flashwave on handicap.
Line honours in the division went to Clockwork, followed by Rehab and Titanium.
The cruising division saw Rogue 3 victorious on both handicap and line, with Fez (handicap) and Equilibrium (line) top in the longhaul category.
Full results here.
Mercury Bay Boating Club was shifted 25m inland after two high-tide cycles eroded metres of land in front of the building during Cyclone Hale. Photo / Eduan Roos
Mercury Bay Boating Club on the move - submit now
Mercury Bay Boating Club is hoping to relocate its historical building - almost 16 months after it was left teetering on the water’s edge in the wake of a storm surge caused by Cyclone Hale.
The Whitianga-based club was shifted 25m inland days after two high-tide cycles had eroded metres of land in front of the building and put the whole club at risk of being washed away.
Public submissions are now open for the club's proposed relocation to Dundas Street.
"Securing a lease from the Department of Conservation is crucial to the club’s survival," said former Commodore Jonathan Kline.
"Dundas Street is the only remaining option for reinstating the clubhouse and restoring normal club operations. Reinstatement at the current site has been ruled out due to ongoing erosion and complex cultural, heritage, and planning issues."
According to Kline, the Dundas Street location "offers... direct access to sheltered water for junior sailing, and to the marina and harbour for [the club's] keeler fleet".
The club is proposing to install a separate dinghy ramp and will work with the local council and DoC to improve the overall amenity of the area, he added.
Community members are encouraged to support the proposed relocation by completing a submission at this link before May 9.
The Sanders Cup (right) and the Kingham Trophy.
Northland sweep at Sanders Cup
Northland claimed a dramatic win in the 100th annual Sanders Cup hosted by Gisborne Yacht Club over Anzac weekend (April 25-28), taking the coveted title by a single point.
The northerners, represented by Phil McNeill and Hamish Hey, finished the third and final day with placings of 2, 3 and 1 to pip Manwatu (David Brown and David Feek), Wellington (Wade McGee and Demian Dixon) a further two points back.
The Sanders Cup is the oldest trophy sailed for in New Zealand under its original inception, and the only remaining senior interprovincial challenge sailing competition. Originally sailed in the 14 ft X-class, the competition was transferred to the John Spencer-designed Javelin in 1971.
The Cup is preceded by the battle for the Kingham Trophy, presented to the winner of the Invitation Race.
McNeill and Hey also won this race - easily holding off the challenge of Auckland representatives Rob Fordyce and Craig Gilberd.
Almost 220 sailors from 33 schools competed at the event. Photo / New Plymouth Yacht Club
AGS on top in schools teams racing
New Plymouth Yacht Club hosted a successful 2024 New Zealand secondary schools teams racing national championships last week - so successful that they have already ensured that the 2025 edition will also be sailed off Ngāmotu Beach.
Just under 220 sailors from 33 schools spread between Wanaka and Kerikeri competed in as many as 90 daily races over five days, with Auckland Grammar School eventually crowned as the overall winner with 24 points. Rangitoto College (20 pts) and St Kentigern College (19 pts) were second and third.
Christ's College Canterbury took out the silver fleet with 22 points, followed by Westlake Girls High School and Napier Boys' High School, both on 17 points.
Kerikeri High School (21 pts), Christchurch combined girls (18 pts) and Tauhara College (14 pts) finished top of the bronze fleet, with St Kentigern College girls (14 pts), Garin College (10 pts), and Diocesan School for Girls (9 pts) best-placed in the emerald fleet.
Full results here.
The 2024 regatta will again have an entry limit. Photo / Supplied
Enter now for 2024 Waikawa Women's Regatta
Entries are now open for Waikawa Boating Club's 2024 Women’s Regatta.
The event will take place from September 12 to 14 and will again be restricted to 250 entries.
For more information or to enter, click here or click here to read more about the 2023 Women's Regatta.
