Issue date
The Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also bring you an update on the club survey.
The Yachting New Zealand regional development managers have been travelling around their regions over the past couple of months to visit clubs and undertake a biannual club survey.
It's been a valuable exercise for both the RDMs, who can get an appreciation for each club's needs and also meet new committee members, as well as the clubs.
The survey has provided a useful tool for clubs to complete a self-assessment of their health and day-to-day operations and has allowed many of them to pinpoint what they need to focus on. In many instances, clubs need to improve their policies and governance structures.
This is often difficult for many clubs, especially as most are run by volunteers and turnover is common.
Yachting New Zealand provide a host of resources for clubs to access, including the comprehensive club manual. AKTIVE also have a great resource hub and you can contact your RDM if you can't find what you're looking for.
If your club haven't yet completed the survey, your RDM will be in touch to arrange a time.
AON clinics
Yachting New Zealand's AON Youth ILCA Clinics are coming around quickly for sailors in the central region.
The first will be held at the Napier Sailing Club on September 3-4. At present, nine have registered from as far afield as Taupo, New Plymouth and Gisborne.
The second will be hosted in Wellington by the Plimmerton Boating Club on September 17-18 and has so far attracted seven sailors.
These clinics have been timed to avoid exams and hopefully the windy October period and registrations can be made here.
Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club
The Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club have hit the big screen, with a promotional video of the club's learn to sail programme being played at the local cinema.
See the video here
Club members approached Hokitika's Regent Theatre to see if they would be interested in playing the clip before their movies. The theatre is a heritage building in the heart of town and has been for in operation for more than 80 years.
The Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club will be holding their 80th anniversary celebrations over Waitangi weekend (February 4-6, 2023).
The club are situated 10 minutes south of Hokitika in the Lake Mahinapua Department of Conservation Scenic Reserve Park. Contact Winona Dowell (Winphil18@gmail.com) for more information.
RNZYS
Teams from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron made their presence felt at the 2022 Aircalin Match Racing Cup in New Caledonia last weekend, with two finishing in the top three.
The team of Reuben Corbett, Max McLachlan, Maeve White, Brooke Adamson and Brad Salthouse won the title, beating local Tom Picot 3-0 in the final.
The team of Mason Mulcahy, Harry McMullen, Hugo McMullen, Luis Schneider and Macgregor Jones were competing in their first match racing regatta and finished third overall and first youth team.
A third RNZYS team were also competing - Josh Hyde and his crew of Ryder Ellis, Jack Manning, Zach Fong and Cody Coughlan - finishing third in the youth standings and sixth overall in the 11-strong fleet.
Auckland Junior Winter Sprint Series
The next round of the Auckland Junior Winter Sprint Series will be hosted by the Kohimarama Yacht Club on Saturday and a promising forecast should see another strong fleet.
More than 70 young Optimist, Starling and P Class sailors competed at the last event at the Wakatere Boating Club on August 13 after a small delay ashore due to no wind.
“The goal was to get the racing going even if the conditions were marginal, knowing everyone was keen to get on the water,” race officer Matthew Mason said.
The top mark was set just off the club, which made for some fantastic spectator viewing. In the end, three races were completed in very tricky and shifty conditions.
The last race in the series will be incorporated into the Murrays Bay Sailing Club's Icebreaker on September 17. See here for more information and here for the overall results.
Kerikeri Cruising Club
A keen group of youth sailors went down to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron last weekend to compete in the Harken Auckland Match Racing Championships.
The team of Sam Kee, Isla Kee, Erin Kee and skipper Charley Cates had an awesome regatta in light winds to come third, the youngest team in their first match racing regatta.
The quartet have now earned an invitation to October's Harken NZ Match Racing Championships.
Sandspit Yacht Club
The Sandspit Yacht Club are keen to rebuild their centreboard division and are holding an open day on Sunday (from 10am) at their Algies Bay facility.
A lot of work can go into these days and the club are still looking for people to lend a hand. They're particularly keen to hear from anyone keen to coach.
Head coach Colin Ingham is interested in putting together a pool of coaches so that no one has to commit to every Sunday during the eight-week programme.
The centreboard sailing programmes runs every Sunday from mid-October to Christmas, and recommences for another eight weeks from early-February.
Visit their website for more information.
