Issue date
Charitable trust the Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy Trust (BoPSAT) has reported a successful season and year operating under a new model.
“We’re delighted to end our 30 June financial year with a surplus of around $7500 and a number of milestones passed” said chairman Stuart Pedersen. “This has been largely thanks to our excellent working relationship with the centreboard division of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, a relationship we would now like to replicate with other clubs in the Bay.”
BoPSAT’s mission is essentially to get more kids into sailing, regardless of disadvantage or disability. The trust has a fleet of 48 sailboats and sailboards, including plastic learner gear for beginner courses and race ready fibreglass equipment for budding racers. The gear, complete with lifejackets and other kit, is available to clubs, schools and individuals at modest rates, and the trust also has access to coaches and other resources which clubs can use to implement new programmes and to build their fleets.
The trust also has a history of supporting both specialist coaching and overseas travel for the most promising sailors in the Bay. “We’re really proud of the role we have played since 2004 in developing and supporting young sailors who have gone on to succeed nationally and internationally” said Stuart.
According to the Tauranga club’s John Revington, the latest season saw the club appoint a full time instructor/coach from October to March, and successfully bring in-house the Fun Sailing, Learn to Sail and Learn to Race programmes, all of which use BoPSAT boats and gear. “This has provided a real boost to membership and participation at the club, and has encouraged us to recruit for a new coach for September to April next season.”
Meanwhile BoPSAT raised funds to build two new storage sheds for some of its learner boats at the Bay of Plenty Sailing Centre at Sulphur Point, Tauranga, and to purchase six new Far East Optimist dinghies for race charter. 50% of this project was funded by a grant from TECT.
The trust’s 420 fleet was used for training by the successful Tauranga Boys College team, and for racing at the NZTSA nationals at Taupo. The Topaz boats were popular for adult learn to sail and for a new joint Boys College/Girls College team sailing development squad. The Rotorua Yacht Club also used the trust’s Viper windsurfer fleet for its very successful fun day and learn to windsurf course.
“We’ve just finished building our new sheds and a new website. Right now we are seeking funds to allow us to refit twelve of our two handed boats, all of which have pretty tired sails” said Stuart. “We don’t anticipate needing more boats or boards for a while, and the last year’s surplus will be reinvested into supporting youth sailing this year.
“Priorities for the coming season will be to assist TYPBC to do more of the same plus get more windsurfing happening in Tauranga, to forge closer links with the wider Bay of Plenty sailing community, and to help clubs take sailing out into the schools and to other groups including those who are disadvantaged or disabled. We are also keen to develop a reliable income stream to help us fund our programmes in the future. We are just a small group of trustees and as always finances and manpower are limited, but we are looking forward to another good year” said Stuart.
Visit www.bopsat.com for more information. Stuart can be contacted on 021 878882.
