Issue date
The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also remind you about the amazing role volunteers play.
Looking through the nominations for the service awards at this year's Aon Yachting Excellence Awards, it was abundantly clear that there are a large number of really passionate volunteers in our sport.
It's important, then, for clubs to remember why people belong to clubs and acknowledge the amazing work volunteers do to keep our clubs running. This was reinforced during the recent club surveys conducted by the Yachting New Zealand regional development managers.
In the vast majority of cases, clubs are fully run and administered by keen and passionate volunteers, without the benefit of paid staff or administrators.
There are plenty of ways to acknowledge volunteers and it can be as simple as saying thanks at prizegiving or offering a daily perk, like a free beverage after sailing.
It can sometimes be difficult to navigate the growing compliance and administrative requirements, and the regional development managers are available to help clubs through these processes.
Another thing that came out strongly in the surveys is that clubs like to read about what is going on locally, so we encourage clubs and members to send in articles for the Briefings newsletter.
Lake Taupo Yacht Club
The long-awaited Optimist North Island Championships will be contested this weekend for the first time in three years when in excess of 100 boats take to the waters off the Lake Taupo Yacht Club.
The last two North Island champs were cancelled due to Covid so this is the first time Taupo have hosted this regatta for some time. It is now a two-day regatta, rather than three, and will also incorporate a round of the Starling Travellers Series.
Late entries are still being accepted, but this closes at 7pm on Thursday night. See here for more details.
O'pen Skiff national championships
It's also been a while since the last O'pen Skiff national championships and 41 youngsters will line up across the gold, silver and development divisions on Friday for three days of racing at the Naval Point Club Lyttelton.
Sir Russell Coutts, who played a large hand in the development of the class, is expected to be on hand in Lyttelton, along with some sailors who competed at this year's world championships in France. Next year's world championships will be in Italy.
Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
It was a cracking start to the Taylor and Co Lawyers Ladies Twilight Series recently with six fully-crewed boats sailing and a warm and windy evening to blow any winter cobwebs away.
All boats got off to a flying start, with Patiko crossing the line last but, by getting the kite up, reached the first mark first… except around the wrong way.
It was a good learning experience and it certainly helps that the club have so many experienced sailors on hand to teach anyone keen to develop their skills.
Line honours: Share Delight
Handicap 1st: Toyshop; 2nd: Mayflower 3rd: Knot at Work
Canterbury Yachting Association
The Canterbury Yachting Association are the collarabitive organisation for yachting in the Canterbury region and coordinate the regional sailing calendar, race officials training and regional promotion as well as running a youth programme.
The CYA, in conjunction with Sport Canterbury, are running the second forum on The Future of Canterbury Yachting to be held at the Pleasant Point Yacht Club on Thursday evening (6pm).
This is being led by Malcolm Humm from Sport Canterbury and is an opportunity for members to put communicate their views on the CYA and the direction of yachting in Canterbury.
Howick Sailing Club
The Howick Sailing Club's junior learn to race fleet is booming. This season they have more than 40 youngsters in various classes from Optis and Starlings to ILCAs being coached at various times across four weeknights.
The Opti group has been extremely popular, with up to 22 kids attending the Thursday night race training session, and 12 Starlings and a few ILCA 6s gather for coaching on Tuesday nights.
This is the first time the club have had ILCA sailors and it’s great to see them offering their Starling sailors a pathway into this class.
For the first time ever, Howick Sailing Club have also started an adult learn to sail programme which is sailed in the ILCA 6.
And to top things off, the club also plan to add learn to wingfoil training to their programme.
Sailability Whanganui
Sailability Whanganui are looking for volunteers to help Arahunga School sailors as part of the Sailability Trust's summer programme.
Volunteer sailors, dock hands and support boat personnel are needed to help at Pauri Lake, five minutes south of Whanganui, on Fridays from 11am to 1pm. All training provided.
The trust have recently completed a new shed to store the four Hansa 303 boats and RIB and if you haven’t sailed a Hansa 303, come out and enjoy the experience.
Email Bob Davies bob.davies@xtra.co.nz if you can help.
Sailability Otago
Last season's move to receive two loan boats has proved successful and now the Sailability Otago Trust are looking to purchase their own Hansa 303 yachts to service the Otago community. You can make a donation here.
The Hansa Association New Zealand loaned two boats last season to be sailed out of the Broad Bay Boating Club, which is presently undertaking a rebuild.
The trust's goal is regular accessible sailing events at Broad Bay, developing into a hub of inclusive sailing in Otago Harbour, and they're also looking to help sailors attend various regattas.
You can follow the trust's progress on their Facebook page.
Wairoa Yacht Club
Wairoa Yacht Club will be hosting their annual river regatta on November 19-20, which is always a fun regatta.
The event is open to all centreboard classes as well as small trailer yachts (max 22 feet) and supporters can see some close-up viewing of the racing from the banks of the river.
The junior fleet normally do a destination sail to the boulder bank after they finish a couple of races to keep them entertained. The evening BBQ is also outstanding and there is free camping available at the club (they even have nice showers and kitchen facilities), so come along and enjoy.
See here for more details.
Taipa Sailing Club
The Far North Championships are also being held on the weekend of November 19-20 and locals have promised some great weather and big fleets.
The event incorporates the J14 North island Championships, Splash Gold Cup and RS Feva Traveller Series but is open to any centreboard classes as well as windfoilers, wingfoilers and WASZPs (try saying that quickly). A special thanks to sponsors North Sails and Ronstan.
All enquiries to taipasailingclub@gmail.com
Classic Yacht Charitable Trust
The Classic Yacht Charitable Trust are hosting a special birthday for two special ladies, one turning 125 and the other 130.
The event, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on November 10, celebrates the birthdays of classic yachts Thelma (125 years) and Gloriana (130) and is a fundraiser for the trust. Tickets cost $30.
World-renowned marine artist David Barker will also present his latest painting.
You can read more about the trust, their origins and the work they do, here.
