Issue date
Attendance was good at the recent South Island planning meeting with more than 26 individuals gathering together at Naval Point Club Lyttelton on Saturday 6 June.
Banner image: Some of the attendees at the recent South Island planning meeting
The last time a South Island planning meeting was held was back in 2012 and organisers were pleased with the turn out from clubs around the South Island with a couple of car loads travelling up from Otago, members travelling down from the Marlborough area and a good representation from the Canterbury Clubs. Dave Stringer, Wakatipu Yacht Club Commodore and Southland Yachting Association Chairman, made a special flight up to Christchurch to attend.
Representatives from three Regional Associations attended as well as David Abercrombie, (Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive), Andrew Clouston (Yachting New Zealand Participation and Development Manager) and Irene Hayward (Yachting New Zealand Board Director).
After a round of club reports a few identifiable areas came to the fore. Subjects of common concern for clubs were the likes of member retention following Learn to Sail programmes, attracting new members into our sport and the constant problem faced by many in the south – the distance and cost of travel to many of the country’s major events.
Plenty of positives were discussed too. A lot of promising programmes are being run by clubs in the south with some new initiatives being discussed during the day.
Such ideas included the Charteris Bay Yacht Club’s Adventure Sail for kids, Naval Point’s mid-week sailing and their Winter Series programme which both target a wide range of sailors with an emphasis on fun as well as getting competitors back into the Clubhouse at approximately the same time. Also discussed was the potential for all South Island clubs to become part of the youth programme being developed around the Naval Point Club’s five Elliot 6s. For further information on this exciting development contact Ross May at Naval Point Club Lyttelton.
It was pleasing to hear of the re-build projects currently starting or part way through for the Christchurch clubs following the earthquakes of 2011.
The group also went over the major events programme for the coming 2015/16 season for South Island events. A discussion point was the rotation of pathway classes to enable as many sailors and families to attend and still give the South Island a fair opportunity to host such events. Whilst this can be a contentious issue for some and very difficult to satisfy all points of view it was nevertheless felt that the Class Associations would best drive this with the support of Yachting New Zealand.
Both David Abercrombie and Andrew Clouston led some informative discussion on current concerns facing all clubs including foreshore issues, laws and regulation changes and aquaculture matters, changes to Health and Safety Legislation/Risk Management and changes to the Affiliation levy calculation method. David was able to put any major concerns to rest for the members present and also explained in greater depth the Yachting New Zealand Discount Card currently being trialed and the related benefits to members.
It was agreed that these meetings were an important component in enabling the South Island clubs to gain greater cohesion among themselves and not feel overshadowed by our cousins in the North Island. Whilst these meetings used to be held annually, events in Christchurch plus the 2013 South Island Commodores’ Conference meant that they had dropped off the schedule. Both South Island Regional Support Officers, Ian Gardiner and Graeme Wall believe that these meetings are important to get back on the calendar and consequently the next one is already planned to be held in the greater Christchurch area in 2016.
The meeting was supported by AON who provided the lunches, tea and coffee and Volvo assisted in some promotional displays at Naval Point. Four delegates from Dunedin had the benefit of a test drive in a Volvo XC60 from Dunedin to Lyttelton return – no doubt sales will be going up in the Dunedin area now.
On behalf of the Yachting New Zealand staff and all the representatives of the various South Island Clubs; a big thank you to the Naval Point Club for hosting this meeting.
