Issue date
The four Yachting New Zealand regional development managers take a look at what has been happening in their areas and also remind clubs about the wealth of resources in our club manual.
Club Manual
Did you know we have a club manual on the Yachting New Zealand website?
You can find it in the clubs section (second line down) on our drop-down menu items and it provides everything clubs affiliated to Yachting New Zealand need to know to run a great club. Or simply click here.
Yachting New Zealand’s strategic vision is, with member clubs, to deliver high-quality experiences and equal opportunities for participants of all levels and backgrounds that foster a lifelong passion for sailing, boating and the environment. We recognise a major part of this is ensuring clubs are capable and strong.
The club manual is a hub of information with support, resources, ideas and guidance. It includes everything from information on committees, running regattas and events to risk management and policy templates, online learning opportunities, funding ideas and much more.
If there is information you would like to see added to this manual, please get in touch with us and we can keep this a relevant, up-to-date, living resource.
Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club
The Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club will be turning 80 next season and will be holding their 80th anniversary celebrations over the weekend of February 4-6, 2023.
The area around the club is managed by the Department of Conservation and there is a great DOC campsite within a very short walk to the lake and club.
The area also has other attractions, including the tree-top walkway, cycle ways, kayaking, waterway scenic cruise and, of course, the iconic pub where the Mainland cheese add were filmed is directly across the road to the club.
Current and former member and supporters are encouraged to mark the dates in their diaries and bring the family along to enjoy the festivities and unique attractions in the area.
The Lake Mahinapua Aquatic Club is situated on the West Coast of the South Island just 10 minutes south of Hokitika in the Lake Mahinapua Department of Conservation Scenic Reserve Park.
The club cater for all areas of dinghy sailing and other aquatic activities. It's a favourite destination for Canterbury yachties who travel over to enjoy West Coast hospitality and enjoy the special sailing on the lake.
Please contact Winona Dowell (Winphil18@gmail.com or 027 689 5197) for more information.
2022 Finn Center Island Championships and 2022 Paper Tiger Championships
Last weekend's combined event at the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club had been in the planning for some time following a request from the Finn fleet for an event in the middle of the country to allow for easier participation.
But the ever-changing Covid environment meant the go button was pushed only two weeks before the event.
The club put together a good plan, with many Queen Charlotte Yacht Club members travelling to a social weekend in Kaiteriteri and leaving the clubs facilities for the Finn and Paper Tiger fleets and the regatta.
The two associations also made it into an old-school event by sourcing zesty refreshments from local breweries and wineries, on top of crayfish and paua, and having a BBQ on the QCYC deck. This was well received and provided great old school camaraderie while respecting the Covid Protection Framework.
A nice touch for the event was the bottle of rum for individual race winners from a local sponsor.
As many as 16 Finn sailors competed, with Paul Bamford finishing on top in the light conditions.
It was a tight contest in the Paper Tiger South Island Championships, with an intense battle between the master Dave Shaw and his apprentice Noah Malpot, who was sailing Dave’s old boat.
Malpot, at just 55kg, revelled in the sometimes extremely light conditions and picked up the title on countback.
Lipton Cup
Orion II skippered by Martin Robertson collected its 11th Lipton Cup title at the 101st staging of the famous event recently.
The Lipton Cup is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy competed for by the same class. It's sailed in 22ft L-Class yachts, commonly known as Mullet Boats, and some in the fleet are now more than 100 years old and still very competitive.
Last Saturday's race starting off Ponsonby Cruising Club was contested in a 10-15 knot (gusting 20 knot) breeze.
Orion II took control early in the race which consisted of two windward-leewards across the harbour followed by a harbour course out to Rangitoto (via a few other marks) and back to Westhaven.
She finished 12 minutes of Valeria, with Rangi Manu third.
Windoil Traveller Series
New Zealand's top windfoilers warmed up for their upcoming excursion to Europe by taking out the top spots at the latest round of the Windfoil Traveller Series at the Manly Sailing Club last weekend.
Josh Armit finished narrowly ahead of Thomas Crook, with Eli Liefting third in the men's competition, and Veerle ten Have won the women's competition. All four, as well as Brianna Orams who didn't compete at Manly, are heading to Europe soon for their first international competition since windfoiling was included on the Olympic programme.
Armit and ten Have also won the overall series, which was contested over four events.
There were 21 entries in the silver fleet last weekend, illustrating the number of people who have taken up windfoiling in recent times. The silver fleet was taken out by Chris Fewtrell and Ella Gladwell.
Race officials squeezed in six races on the first day of competition due to the fact racing on Sunday wasn't even attempted with high winds.
Southland Championships
The pinnacle of the season for Southland sailors, the Southland Champs, has been re-scheduled and has a new host club for this year’s event.
Marakura Yacht Club on Lake Te Anau will now host the event on April 9-10.
The regatta is open to all dinghy and trailer sailor class yachts and the notice of race and entry forms can be found at www.marakura.org
Wakatipu Yacht Club - Donald Hay Regatta
This iconic Donald Hay Regatta that was postponed in mid-February because of Covid will now take place on the weekend of April 30/May 1.
You can find further information about the event here.
Titahi Bay Boating Club
The Titahi Bay Boating Club regatta is set to return after a long absence on April 9 and will also incorporate a round of the Paremata-Plimmerton-Titahi Bay Interclub series.
You can find the notice of race here and online entries here , with entry costing $10 per boat.
As the club have said for an event that will be their last of the summer, "we'll bring the BBQ & wind, you bring the boat & whanau!"
Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron
The Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron’s 'mystery cruise' got plenty of boats out on lake Rotoiti recently, with the new format proving a hit with cruising sailors.
The format saw boats hanging around the start rather than a start line and way points where the leading boat went to the back of the fleet.
After the 'formalities', the fleet went on to Cheery Bay for the night where the cruisers and races gave great feedback on the new format.
The BOPTYS will now turn their attention to this weekend's club regatta, which will also include the Ross 780 North Island Championships.
Lake Taupo Yacht Club
The 12 foot skiffs held their class national championships at Lake Taupo recently with a good turnout of 13 boats from clubs around the North Island.
The three-day regatta, which was part of the annual Bayley's Taupo Centreboard Regatta, went well with nine races completed and some exciting fresher breeze on the final day.
Royal Akarana Yacht Club’s Alex Vallings and Sam Richardson took the national title with Manukau sailors Christopher Skinner and Malcom Paine second followed by Tim Bartlett and Mat Hix in third.
As many as 84 boats competed in the Bayley's Taupo Centreboard Regatta, including Optimists, Starlings, Lasers, Paper Tigers and Flying 15s.
Light winds on day one turned to fresh conditions for day two.
It was great to see these regattas continuing to run under the present Covid settings and the club managed it well.
The Lake Taupo Yacht Club will now look forward to hosting the NZTYA Trailer Yacht National Championships over Easter.
RS Feva Traveller Series
RS Feva Sailors enjoyed some fantastic racing at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club last Saturday, which was the final hitout before next month's Feva national championships.
The ominous forecast over the weekend, particularly on the Sunday, meant race officials squeezed five races in on Saturday.
Kate Rasmussen and Madi Russell from the Maraetai Sailing Club were first overall, followed by club mates Sofia Currie and Breanah Kirby. Ben Evans from Tutukaka sailing three-handed with Hannah Evans and Vicky Lindsay was third.
Two crews travelled down from Tutukaka, with Sammy Evans and Lennox Lindsay taking out the junior division and youngest crew at age 9 It was amazing to see them get around the course competitively in challenging conditions.
Full results here.
As many as 30 boats are expected to compete at the nationals at Maraetai next weekend (April 2-3) but it's still not too late to enter. Go here for more information.
Roger Collett Memorial Race – Ponsonby Cruising Club
The Roger Collett Memorial Race is held every year in memory of long-standing Ponsonby Cruising Club member Roger Collett, who sadly passed away in 2012.
It's open to all Mullet boats with the course starting off Ponsonby Cruising Club and finishing at Taikata Sailing Club on the Te Atatu Peninsula. Crews are ferried ashore to the Taikata Sailing Club at the end of the race where prizegiving is held.
This year's race was contested in light winds. Rangi Manu were first across the line but Komuri claimed The Roger Collett Memorial Race trophy on handicap.
The trophy was custom made and incorporates the Ponsonby Cruising Club burgee, Mullet boat & the PCC patrol boat Watchman which Roger consistently skippered & maintained along with the other Watchman crew volunteers. The L72 sail number represents the age at which Roger passed.
Prizes were kindly donated by the Collett family.
South Island and Canterbury Optimist Championships
This event last weekend at the Charteris Bay Yacht Club enjoyed warm sunny days and reasonably light winds, allowing all six races in the series to be sailed.
Locals Will Leech and Mali Lloyd took out the open fleet titles and Sam Foster and Mila Blundell finished on top in the green fleet. Full results here.
The next South Island Optimist Championships will be held in Nelson as part of the Top of the South Regatta in December, 2022.
