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The four NZ Community Trust Yachting New Zealand regional development managers highlight some key events from their respective areas over the past fortnight and offer a glimpse of what to expect at next weekend's long-awaited SailGP New Zealand debut.
Young Feva sailors will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the SailGP teams.
RS Feva class in spotlight at SailGP
The RS Feva class is experiencing a popularity boom in New Zealand - and with its involvement in events like the SailGP Inspire regatta later this month, it's not hard to see why.
The class, which now has more women than men competing in it, will feature at the inaugural ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, taking place on March 18-19 on the spectacular Whakaraupō Harbour.
Thirty-five crews, over half of them female, will race in a showcase regatta that precedes the GP event each day.
Not only will sailors compete on the same course as some of their heroes, but they will also get an exclusive peek behind the curtain - attending tech tours, meeting the SailGP teams and getting out to watch the F50 foiling catamarans in action.
“The class is so successful in New Zealand; we are seeing kids sailing together and parents sailing with their children and SailGP is the icing on the cake of a great summer," said NZ Feva Class President, Shelley Liefting.
The RS Feva Association are supporting the event by providing logistical support - a 40-foot container full of boats will soon arrive in Christchurch, while charter boats have also been supported by NZ Sailcraft.
The SailGP Inspire regatta is the last big Feva event before the class national championships at Royal Akarana Yacht Club on April 29-30 where around 50 crews are expected, including an international entrant from New Caledonia.
For more information on the SailGP Inspire regatta, click here.
The 46th RSA Regatta will be held on March 26.
Weekend of racing at Panmure Lagoon
Out-of-towners and other sailing enthusiasts have the opportunity to make a weekend of it at the Panmure Lagoon Sailing Club later this month.
The club will be holding the 46th edition of their RSA Regatta on Sunday March 26, with entries open to all ILCA sailors and with excellent racing and fantastic prizes on offer.
Registration on the day starts at 10.30am, with racing set to get under way at 12pm.
As a prologue to the big event, PLSC will also host the King and Queen of the River Regatta on the Saturday (March 25). The race, now in its eighth year, sees competitors race up the Tamaki River from the Panmure Bridge to the Southern Motorway and back.
Registration starts at 8am on the 25th, followed by racing from 9.30am.
For more information and to register, click here.
Tauranga Regatta: Hansas a highlight
The Tauranga Regatta is one of New Zealand’s most historic and enduring multi-class centreboard events and the 2023 edition did not disappoint with close to 80 entries in nine different classes and many well-known names competing on the beautiful Tauranga Harbour.
Despite the challenging light winds, the race committee managed to get five races completed over the two days.
A strong turnout in the Hansa 303 fleets was a particular highlight. Designed to be sailed single or double-handed, these yachts are suitable for people with a wide array of disabilities.
Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club member Paulien Chamberlain, who is visually impaired and relies on sound emitted from the marks to navigate her way around the course, dominated the single-handed division, winning four of the five races. Caleb Evans finished second, just five points behind. Evans, who joined Sailability Tauranga as a youngster when it first started seven years ago, has since graduated to sailing other boats such as the ILCA.
The Hansa 303 double-handed fleet saw some very close racing with three of the four boats entered winning a race. Jordan Grogan and his crew took the narrow two-point win over Angus Bates and Graeme Duske.
Full results here.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Mastercard Youth Training Programme is open for registrations.
RNZYS training programme resumes
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Mastercard Youth Training Programme is now accepting registrations for the 2023 season.
Having trained over 1000 sailors in the past 36 years, producing top-level competitors in the America's Cup, Ocean Race, SailGP and other internationally ranked sailing classes, the programme is regarded as a global leader.
The YTP focuses on sailing skills both on and off the water, including an in-depth focus on racing rules, sail trim, boat maintenance, fitness, and life skills. Fees include coaching for the season, uniform, access to the Elliott 7 sailboats, RNZYS membership and more.
For more information, click here or contact Zak Merton on 022 576 2968 or zmerton@rnzys.org.nz.
Situations vacant: Sail-makers, apprentice wanted
Evolution Sails, the global sail-making and leading membrane company, has several opportunities for people who are interested in the marine industry.
The EM2 membrane plant, one of the most modern yacht sail membrane facilities around, needs stringers/laminators with training being provided.
Evolution Sails is also looking for a sail-making apprentice, experienced sail-makers or canvas-makers.
Anyone interested can contact Nicky Hansen at 027 706 8971 or nicky@evolutionsails.com.
The WBC Club Champs featured an impressive line-up - including a competitive 420 fleet. Photo / Wakatere Boating Club
WBC Club Champs: Revenge for Clinton, Hume
Tessa Clinton and Nicola Hume exacted some revenge on Cam Brown and Alex Norman by taking out the 420 title at Wakatere's Club Championships - only days after losing to the pair at the 2023 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta.
Clinton and Hume won the first four races before Brown and Norman hit back with victories in the last three - but the one-point margin was enough to take the overall first place.
Brown and Norman triumphed at the Oceanbridge regatta on February 26, defeating Clinton and Hume and three other 420 crews.
A highlight of the Club Champs was when Wakatere Boating Club members - and America's Cup and Olympic sailing legends - Rod Davis and John Cutler shared some tips with sailors after the first day of the two-day regatta.
The duo spoke at length about the impact of conditions - and especially the current - on racing at Wakatere.
Full results from the WBC Club Championships here.
Entry fees to support cyclone victims
Wakatere Boating Club will host the 2023 Toyota Optimist Nationals on April 6-10, following this weekend's Windfoil Summer Series and the Auckland Secondary Schools Regatta (March 25).
According to the organisers, the final instalment in the Windfoil Series will double as a fundraising event for victims of Cyclone Gabrielle - with all proceeds from entry fees to be donated to NZ Red Cross in Napier.
Foil Labs NZ will also match every entry fee for the donation.
Eleven people were killed during the cyclone last month, with widespread devastation across the North Island and especially in the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne regions.
Jake Pye on his way to the title at the 2023 NZ International Moth National Championships at Wakatipu Yacht Club. Photo / Aidan Gordon Media
Pye too hot to handle at Moths
Manly Sailing Club’s Jake Pye was on fire at the 2023 NZ International Moth National Championships at Wakatipu Yacht Club last week – taking out an impressive 13 of the 18 races for a 33-point overall win.
Mattias Coutts, also a Manly sailor, finished second, with Switzerland’s Sebastien Schneither third.
The stellar 16-boat-fleet also included former Laser world championships silver medallist Mike Bullott, Henry Haslett and Nick Heiner.
Pye also finished third at the 2023 IMCA Australia Championships in January, with Coutts sixth.
Optimists, O'pen Skiffs, Starlings, Sunbursts and P-classes made up the bulk of the fleet at the Wellington Schools Regatta.
Good showing at schools regatta
The capital turned on a stunner of a day for yesterday's Wellington Schools Regatta, hosted by the Paremata Boating Club.
A good fleet turned out for the four races with Optimists, O'pen Skiffs, Starlings, Sunbursts and P-classes making up the bulk of competitors.
PBC will now turn their focus to the annual club regatta on March 18.
Full results here.
Sailability Whanganui: Help wanted
Sailability Whanganui finally has their new shed up and running after some long delays due to Covid-19, followed by the high level of the lake.
The group operate from Lake Pauri, just south of Whanganui, with disabled sailors coming from as far as the Manawatū region.
Sailability Whanganui are also looking for volunteers to help with their programme. If you are interested in helping, please get in touch with the Sailability Whanganui Trust.
Meanwhile, Sailability Wellington last weekend hosted their 2023 Ability Trophy which saw not only some incredible action on the water but also featured a coaching clinic with NSW Sailability expert John Sanderson.
The clinic was made possible thanks to the generous support of IHC NZ, Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors, and Compass Coffee.
420 nationals at Evans Bay
Evans Bay Yacht & Motor Boat Club will be hosting the 420 class nationals - with three daily races scheduled for the four-day regatta starting tomorrow (March 9).
This regatta will also count as the 2023 New Zealand 420 Open & National Champs and 420 Open World Championships Team Selection.
Lake Taupō Yacht Club's annual Centreboard Regatta takes place this weekend.
Boost for Taupō regatta
Lake Taupō Yacht Club will be holding their annual Centreboard Regatta this weekend and numbers will be boosted with the inclusion of the ILCA North Island Freshwater Championships for the first time.
The club will also be gearing up for the Central North Island 420 Team Sailing Regatta to be held March 26-28 with teams from Napier, Tauranga, New Plymouth and the host city expected.
