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Hi everyone… It is an exciting time of the yachting year – event announcements, local yachting now in full swing and Awards recognition for many deserving yachties.
Heading into the festive season I’d like to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas whether cruising or racing. If you happen to be parked in a nice bay somewhere on our fantastic New Zealand coastline take a minute to remind yourself that we all need to continue to actively protect and preserve those magic spots for all recreational users – at Yachting New Zealand we certainly put it high on our priority list.
Here are a few things that have really captured my attention lately…
- New Zealand has an iconic new blue water yacht race with yesterday’s announcement of the A2B Blue Water Classic Yacht Race which will see a fleet drag race from Auckland to Bluff. I think the A2B has huge potential to give keelboat racing in New Zealand a great boost in profile, and to become one of the world’s great yacht races.
- The 2012 Yachting Excellence Awards was a massive success with many thoroughly deserving yachties recognised for their work and achievements. It was an absolute delight to see our Olympic gold medal girls named Orbit Corporate Travel Sailor of the Year for 2012 and presented the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy by Sir Colin Giltrap.
- Torbay Sailing Club delivered another terrific edition of the Sir Peter Blake Memorial Regatta over the weekend with stellar weather to boot. It’s a truly heart-warming sight to see the Hauraki Gulf literally packed with sails and another star in the making awarded the Sir Peter Blake Trophy. Congratulations to Nick Egnot-Johnson, the latest to join the interesting group who have their name engraved on that trophy.
- Takapuna Boating Club will host another high profile World Championship Regatta with the A-Class Cat Worlds coming to our shores in 2014.
- On the Olympic scene I’m pretty happy to report that both of our 2012 medal winning crews, Jo & Polly and Peter & Blair have signalled that they will campaign for Rio 2016. Tomorrow Jo and Polly will reveal which boat they’ll hit the water in at a sponsor function in Christchurch.
- Also in Olympic classes the ISAF Sailing World Cup is underway with Sail Melbourne, the series opener on now across the ditch. It’s the first of these regattas to feature the new Women’s skiff class, the 49erFX, including one kiwi entry of Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech currently lying second.
- We are playing a waiting game with the National Ocean Water Sports Centre (NOWSC) right now with a decision from Auckland Council delayed until the New Year. Currently a Community Board (comprised of five community board members and an independent commissioner) are considering the proposed development, and with the hearing process nearly complete, their recommendation to Council will follow. More information will be available from Auckland Council from December 18th from their website here.
- And finally, at the Yachting New Zealand office we welcome Charles Baillie-Strong to the team as Coach Development Manager. Charles replaces Rob Hielkema who is off exploring the world on a nine month adventure which will include some ocean racing.
Best regards
David
