Yachting New Zealand

Sail Auckland 2010 to be Grade 1 Event

ISAF has granted Grade 1 status to the 2010 Sail Auckland Regatta. The event is considered to be New Zealand’s premier sailing regatta for Olympic classes, and is a selection event for the ISAF Youth Worlds. If any individual class doesn’t meet the criteria for Grade 1, they will be downgraded to the appropriate grade. The 2010 event will be held from 3-7 February and will include sailing for Lasers, Laser Radials, RS:X, 420, 470, 29er, 49er, Starling and Splash classes.

YNZ National Youth Squad - Update

The first of three National Youth Squad Clinics was conducted recently at the Takapuna Boating Club. Attendees travelled from Northland, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay to receive top level coaching from Yachting New Zealand Youth Coaches.

Coaches included Olympians Bruce Kendall, Dan Slater and Jamie Hunt as well as top performers in a number of other Olympic and Youth Classes.

Ten sailors nominated for 2009 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team

Yachting New Zealand is delighted to announce the team that will represent New Zealand at the 39th Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Buzios, Brazil, in July this year.

Often described as a forerunner to Olympic success, the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships is an event in which New Zealand has a successful record, securing second place overall on the nations ranking list in 2008, and third overall in 2007.

Dream-team announced to lead sailing’s Olympic medal seekers

The duo appointed to prepare the New Zealand sailing team for the London Olympic Games come with the highest possible credentials and an impressive track record:

Jez Fanstone has skippered a Volvo Ocean Race campaign and managed three Olympic programmes. But his most recent achievement, and the one he is best known for is as coach to British sailor Ben Ainslie, whose successes included Olympic Gold medals in three consecutive games.

Your club on display at the Auckland International Boat Show

In conjunction with the Marine Industry Association of New Zealand, Yachting New Zealand has arranged free exhibition space for affiliated Clubs, Class Associations and Non-Commercial Maritime Members at the 2009 Auckland International Boat Show, which takes place from 5-8 March 2009 at the Viaduct Harbour, Auckland.

Travel assistance for New Zealand sailors

For New Zealand sailors competing internationally, travel expenses make up a big part of their budget. Yachting New Zealand is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Singapore Airlines that will help New Zealand sailors competing overseas with both airfares and the volume of excess baggage common to those transporting sailing equipment.

How to apply

Tom Ashley Olympic Gold Medallist named Singapore Airlines New Zealand Sailor of the Year

Tom Ashley, a young man described as having one of the brightest minds in the sport, has been granted the title of Singapore Airlines New Zealand Sailor of the Year. The reigning World Champion board-sailor cemented his place in yachting history when he won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics this year, sailing a near perfect regatta and final medal winning race. The 24-year-old from Auckland’s North Shore is fluent in four languages and has been sailing since the age of eight. He has won six of the ten regattas entered since 2006 and his gold medal at Qingdao was the first for New Zealand sailing since 1992. Tom’s considerable success at grand prix level was also enough to earn him finalist status in the highly prestigious Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, announced on 12 November in Madrid, Spain.

Yachting New Zealand Vacancies

‘Sailing…Have a Go!” Instructor (Central)
Yachting New Zealand is looking to employ a qualified sailing instructor for the Central region of the Sailing…Have a Go program. The position will suit candidates who enjoy teaching children to sail and have the energy and experience to run the mobile programme with assistance from head office.

Great achievements to be highlighted in Yachting Excellence Awards

Once a year the top echelon of New Zealand sailors are recognised for their achievements with a nomination for the Yachting Excellence Awards. These people, coming from the ranks of Olympic, America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and other great sailing disciplines, have reached the pinnacle of yachting on a national and international level, and join the likes of Sir Peter Blake, Russell Coutts, Mike Sanderson, Barbara Kendall, and Team New Zealand in our sport’s hall of fame.

2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Selection Policy announced

In August 2008 Yachting New Zealand, released a draft edition of the Guidelines for Nomination and Selection of the 2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Team. Since this announcement there has been significant debate with respect to amending the process to give New Zealand sailors a better chance of success at the ISAF youth worlds, as well as various Class World Championships.