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What is the Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta?
It’s New Zealand’s premier sailing event for youth and Olympic classes and an excellent chance to gauge how the country’s leading sailors are tracking in their respective campaigns for the 2024 Paris Games.
With the showpiece now only 17 months away, it’s also a valuable opportunity for some of the new sailors and teams that came onto the scene after Tokyo 2020 to further test themselves against quality fleets.
On top of that, a shakeup of the Olympic classes on the programme for Paris means the emergence of a mixed 470 as well as men’s and women’s windfoiling and men’s and women’s kitefoiling.
According to event organiser Sam Mackay, it’s also a rare chance for the country’s rising sailing talent to rig up alongside the top men and women.
“It’s not that often that our youth sailors do an event alongside our Olympic campaigners and that engagement is a special feature of this weekend," Mackay said.
When and where will this year’s event be held?
The 2023 regatta will be hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club on Auckland’s North Shore from 24-26 February.
The 2023 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta will be held at Torbay Sailing Club.
Who should I keep an eye on?
More than 150 sailors will compete in nine Olympic classes, including most of New Zealand’s top Olympic hopefuls.
The battle of the 49erFXs between former long-time partners Alex Maloney and Molly Meech promises to be a highlight, with Maloney now sailing with Olivia Hobbs and Meech teaming up with 470 Olympic gold medallist Jo Aleh.
While the top 49er teams – Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn, and Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie – won’t be in action (as they are competing at the Lanzarote International Regatta in the Canary Islands) – several exciting young teams will be on the start line.
They include Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, Scott McKenzie and Blake McGlashan, recent Auckland Championship winners Campbell Stanton and Will Shapland, and twins (and world under-23 bronze medallists) Pat and Sam Morgan.
Also competing in Lanzarote are Nacra 17 Olympians Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson.
Former world champion Tom Saunders will slug it out against teammate George Gautrey in the ILCA 7, alongside Luke Cashmore, Caleb Armit, Dylan Forsyth, and 2023 New Zealand national champion Luke Deegan.
Plenty of young talent will be on display in both the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets.
The ILCA 6 fleet is expected to be tightly contested with Annabelle Rennie-Younger, Greta Pilkington and Olivia Christie all racing, only weeks after their remarkable 1-2-3 finish in the open division of the class at the nationals at Murrays Bay.
Veerle ten Have, Aimee Bright, Josh Armit, Thomas Crook and Eli Liefting are some of the biggest names in New Zealand windfoiling and will be lining up against the visiting Dutch national team - including Tokyo gold medallist windsurfer Kiran Badloe.
Justina Kitchen and Lukas Walton-Keim are expected to be at the top of the kitefoiling fleet.
See the latest list of entries here.
How do I compete?
You can enter by clicking here. Entries close at 5pm today (Monday, February 13).
Registration will take place between 8.30am and 10.30am on Friday (February 24), followed by a briefing at 11am.
Racing gets under way from 1pm on Friday and Saturday (February 25), and at 11am on Sunday (February 26).
Can I volunteer?
Absolutely.
"This is a really good opportunity to be part of a top regatta in this country," Mackay said.
"We couldn't run these sorts of events without the help of volunteers, and it can be a really rewarding experience. It's going to be a busy period, with lots of traffic on the water, so any help would be greatly appreciated."
Approximately 50 volunteers and 25 boats are required.
“We're looking for people on and off the water - from registration to mark laying, start and finish boat helpers, safety boat operators and timekeepers.
“We're particularly interested in hearing from you if you have a vessel that could be suitable to use as a start or finish boat. Thanks to those who have already put their hand up.”
Please contact Mackay at sam@yachtingnz.org.nz if you can help.
How can I follow the action?
Yachting New Zealand will have live text updates, video and pictures of every race on its website and across its social channels. You can also keep an eye on the mainstream media for coverage.
