Issue date
The new season has kicked off with a bang in the lower North Island, with plenty going on for a variety of clubs and classes.
Spring Opti Coaching Clinic
As many as 26 sailors attended the new spring coaching clinic over three days at the Worser Bay Boating Club.
Open Bic Regatta
This was hosted by the Wanganui Sailing Club with 14 boats sailing over the two days. Fresh conditions tested the sailors on the first day, althoug day two was a lot more manageable. Russell and Hayden did a great job with the sailors including the adventure race up to the other side of the river, a climb up the sandhill and back for a finish at the club.
Optimist North Island championships
Hosted by the Lake Taupo Yacht Club, the three-day regatta included the Starling travellers series. As many as 114 boats were in the open fleet, 29 boats in the green fleet and 30 in the Starling fleet which all provided a great sight on the lake. A range of conditions were thrown up, with zero to 25 knots over the three days. Six qualifying races were sailed and only one finals race was possible in a dying breeze.
Wakatere sailors had a great regatta, with Josh Hyde, George Lee Rush and Mason Mulcahy (also Murrays Bay Sailing Club) taking out the top three spots in the open fleet.
Kohimarama's Amelia Angus was the first female, followed by the Murrays Bay duo of Lucy Leith and Naiomi Ferrisey who were second and third respectively.
The green fleet raced in light conditions on Sunday only as it was too windy on the Saturday and racing was abandoned. Jack Olsen of the Plimmerton Boating Club finished on top ahead of Jack Wilkins (Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club) with Chloe Armstrong (WBBC) third and the first female.
Full results can be found here.
Michelle Woodfield and her team from Taupo did a great job in running the regatta. Next season's North Island regatta will be hosted by the Napier Sailing Club.
The Starling traveller series also featured at the Opti North Island championships.
Hartley 16 and Hansa Class
Both classes will be holding their North Island regattas at Lake Ngaroto Boating Club in November. There will also be a coaching day for the Hansa class sailors on the Friday before the regatta.
Three Clubs Combine Opening Series
Opening day at the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club drew 30 keelboats.
The Royal Port Nicholson, Lowry Bay and Evans Bay clubs combined opening series is working extremely well, with great turnouts to all three clubs events.
The idea of combining racing on opening day was borne out of a meeting called by Port Nicholson commodore Pedro Morgan. He asked to meet with both Lowry Bay and Evans Bay when they had a brainstorm session to come up with ideas to reinvigorate the local sailing scene.
Each club committed to sending keelboats to races over three consecutive weekends (each club's opening day) as well as three other races before the end of November. Port Nicholson also announced the six races would count towards their club championships.
Napier Summer Regatta
This regatta will be held on November 25-26 and will include the Laser and Sunburst North Island championships. Well over 100 boats are expected for the regatta which is growing each year.
Wairoa River Regatta
The Wairoa Yacht Club will host the Waiora River regatta on December 2-3. This is a great event to be a part of, with easy camping at the club, great sailing hospitality and the best close up viewing from the river banks.
