Issue date
The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also let you know about a series of coaching forums coming up this year.
You might have seen a survey in your inbox last week about upcoming forum sessions for club coaches.
Yachting New Zealand recognises that clubs require coaches who have planning and administrative skills to create and implement a seasonal plan for their sailing programmes.
A series of online forums are being created to support those coaches who coordinate and lead club programmes, whether they're a head coach, club flag officer or a new parent coordinating at their club.
Your input on the nature of these forums is valuable and will help shape the topics explored and guest experts used.
The sessions are expected to be about one hour long and with a guest speaker at each.
Proposed schedule
late April: Reflecting on the season
Mid-winter: Preparing for the season ahead - hiring, asset upgrades, major changes, safety system
September/October: Scheduling sailors and coaches, parent engagement
December: Preparing the sailing groups at your club to support the end-of-season events
See here to provide feedback on the sessions or contact Hayden@yachtingnz.org.nz for more information and to join the coach's network
Richmond Yacht Club
Last Friday was the eighth and final race of the season for the Richmond Yacht Club's Victoria Friday Night Special.
The club have been running this series for more than 20 years, which provides an opportunity for people with little or no sailing experience to race on keelboats around the buoys in the Waitemata Harbour in a supportive, low-key environment.
Sailors are allocated to a different boat for each race, which can range in size from 26 feet to 44 feet. There is also a social evening for participants afterwards in the clubrooms, which also includes a 20-minute theory presentation about relevant sailing topics such as safety and rules.
Yachting New Zealand feature this programme on their website as a ‘best practice idea for clubs’. To read more about it, follow this link.
Paremata Boating Club
The Paremata Boating Club switched to the reserve day due to a no-wind forecast and had great conditions for their annual club regatta recently.
As many as 45 sailors enjoyed a nice 5-10 knot northerly that made for some very close racing. Thanks to all of the sailors who came from around Wellington to compete and also to all the volunteers. Clubs couldn't do these things without you.
The club are also thankful to have sponsors NZ Sailing, Whitakers, Seaview Sails and Clark.
Lake Taupo Yacht Club
Photo: Graeme Robinson
The Lake Taupo Yacht Club hosted a fantastic three days of racing recently for the Central North Island Secondary Schools Teams Racing Regatta.
A total of 13 teams (91 sailors) from New Plymouth, Napier, Tauranga, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and two local teams (Tauhara College and a combined Taupo Nui a Tia College / Tauhara College team) contested the event, which saw 108 races over the three days.
More than 40 volunteers helped ensure the event ran smoothly and the event was well supported by sponsors DeBretts Hot Springs, The Landing and Subway Taupo.
Gold Fleet
1st: Napier Boys' High School
2nd: Tauranga Boys College
3rd: New Plymouth Boys' High School Amber
Silver Fleet
1st: Katikati / Mount Maunganui Colleges
2nd: Cambridge Combined
3rd: Taupo Nui / Tauhara Combined
Secondary School Team Sailing
There were other regional team sailing regattas on recently, with the Lower South Island Regional Yachting Championships at the Timaru Yacht Club last week and the Team Sailing Auckland Cup was hosted by the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
The Lower South Island champs enjoyed perfect weather, with Christchurch Boys’ High emerging on top in the six-team event.
Light winds plagued the Auckland Cup over the two days but the race committee whipped through the races when the breeze filled in enough.
Westlake Boys' High School took out the event after a tight final with Auckland Grammar and Westlake Girls edged Diocesan School for Girls in the girls final. See Live Sail Die's report for more information.
Plimmerton Boating Club
Starling sailors from all over New Zealand battled fresh southerlies on the waters off the Plimmerton Boating Club at the North Island Championships recently.
One day blown out but four races were contested on the Sunday thanks to an earlier start and plenty of grit shown by the competitors.
There were 38 boats on the water and the spicy conditions meant the support boats were busy, but congratulations must go to all the sailors for hanging in there in some tough conditions.
The windiest part of the day was when returning to shore at the end of the last race with some huge gusts making coming into the ramp a real battle for most.
There were plenty of positive comments about Plimmerton, from rescue boats and results to dinner on Saturday night. Well done to everyone involved.
Howick Sailing Club
Photo: Richard Beauchamp
As many as 50 Starlings turned out for the final round of the Traveller Series at the Howick Yacht Club, which was for many a final hitout before the national championships in Napier over the Easter weekend.
That number meant in excess of 100 boats have contested the Starling Traveller Series for the 2021/22 season.
Tom Pilkington from Wakatere Boating Club revelled in the 8-10 knot winds to win four of the five races at Howick, with Keaton Lay (Royal Akarana Yacht Club) taking out the development class by winning three of the five races.
Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
The final race in the Taylor & Co Lawyers Ladies Twilight Series ended in the most beautiful twilight setting, with the fleet enjoying a late summer breeze and full sails providing a spectacle of colour against the setting sun.
Then it was back to the clubhouse for the annual end-of-season dress up where pirates, sea princesses and Hawaiian hula girls gathered for the prizegiving.
Thanks to sponsors Taylor & Co Lawyers for their continued support, race officer Mike Lanigan for keeping everyone safe and informed and the loyal kitchen and bar staff. Roll on next season.
1st on line: Share Delight
Handicap: 1st Toyshop; 2nd Patiko: 3rd Share Delight
