Issue date
Not long to go …Queen Charlotte Yacht Club is counting down the days. Next weekend over 120 young sailors will launch their boats at Shelley Beach-Picton to proof themselves in the largest centre board regatta of the South Island.
It will be the 6th time for the QCYC Optimist Challenge. It started out with around 40 sailors. This weekend we are expecting over 80 sailors in the Optimist Open Class, Between 30 and 40 in the Green Fleet Optimist and around 20 in the Starling Championship.
The volunteers from QCYC have been working hard to again make this a great event. We like to thank all our sponsors as we could not do without them. Our Major sponsors are of course the InterIslander and Port Marlborough but numerous others of the industry and the local community contributed.
List of Sponsors:
- The Inter Islander
- Port Marlborough NZ
- Yachting NZ
- Blenheim Toyota
- Sail One
- Burnsco
- Harken
- North Sails
- Force Racing
- Robinson Construction
- Picton Village Bakery
- Fresh Choice
- Le Cafe
- Picton Top 10
- Dominiom Salt
- King Salmon
- Seatec (Waikawa)
- Marlborough Travel
- Westpac
- Ocean Design
- Naiad
- Spy Valley
- Auntsfield
- Blenheim Sea scouts
- Solly's
- Talley's
- The Copier Co
Busy weekend in Picton
The sailors and race officials will be travelling to the regatta with their families and this will be great for Picton too. Come and have a look next weekend to see the action. The official opening will be on Friday night. QCYC will provide a Taste of Marlborough for all the parents and officials to showcase some of Marlborough’s fine food and wines.
Open Fleet
7 sailors will represent QCYC in the Optimist Open Fleet: Oliver Cowley, Jack Tripe, Emily Overend, Jasper Hopkins, Max Gibbs, Sam Chaytor and Jake Morris. And there might be more to add to the list. Keep an eye on Oliver and Jack as they should end up high on the list.
Green Fleet
The Green Fleet will have the following QCYC Sailors. Suede Cowley, Ben Turnbull, Lucinda Turnbull, River Hopkins Mimi Bond, Lily Bond and Hunter Murray. The favourites of the above list would be Suede and Ben. With a thumbs up for River to attempt this at seven years old.
Starling Champs
The starling Champs will be represented by QCYC sailors: Nick Gardner, Alastair Gifford, Hamish Clark, Jessica Cameron, Kate Overend, Alice Overend, Iolo Adams, Christopher Cameron and Libby Grigg. Favourites here will be Alastair and Hamish, both sailing really well in their Optimists last year before changing this to a Starling.
Event Program:
Thursday 20th
1000 Set up event - Erect Marquees, Launch rescue boats, assemble
Bar and Kitchen, assemble race office
1600 Registration opens
1800 Bar opens
1900 Registration closes
Friday 21st
0800 Registration opens
0800 Coffee & breakfast BBQ available
0845 Regatta Opening
0900 FIRING OF THE CANNON
0915 SAILORS BRIEFING
0915 RESCUE BOAT BRIEFING
RACING
1600 Registration opens for Green Fleet and Starling
1700 Free sausage sizzle / mac cheese for sailors
Bar opens
1730 Spot Prizes Opti Open fleet
1730 Official Opening, TASTE MARBOROUGH, Presentation YNZ award
2030 Bar closes
Saturday 22nd
0800 Registration opens for Green and Starling Fleets
0800 Coffee & breakfast BBQ available
0830 SAILORS BRIEFING Starlings
0845 RESCUE BOAT BRIEFING Starlings
0845 Coaches and Team leaders meeting
1000 Green Fleet Briefing and Welcome
1015 Green Fleet Safety Boat Briefing
RACING
1700 Bar opens
1700 Sausage Sizzle / Macaroni cheese
1730 Spot prizes Opti Green & Starling fleets
1930 Bar closes
Sunday 23rd
0800 Coffee & breakfast BBQ available
0845 Coaches and team leader meeting
1000 Green Fleet Briefing
RACING
1600 Sausage Sizzle / Macaroni cheese
Bar opens
1700 PRIZEGIVING
I guess we will have to see what type of event the weather will bring us. We hope to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions: Contact me: Christel Hopkins on cghoppie@xtra.co.nz
0274500316 (home) or 0276175179 (work)
