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Triple Gold for the NZL Sailing Team at EUROSAF Regatta, Garda

13 May 2013

 

 From YNZ:

New Zealand has sailed away with three gold medals at Vela Garda Trentino – the first of five regattas in the inaugural EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup.

The five day regatta wrapped up overnight in picturesque Lake Garda, Italy where yet another new format for scoring was being trialled.

A strong finish for the kiwi team sees gold medal performances from Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (Women’s 470), Andy Maloney (Laser) and Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (49er).

Furthermore New Zealand’s Nacra 17 crew of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders had their best regatta yet with a 4th place finish.

For Olympic Champs Aleh and Powrie this regatta marks the opening of their Rio 2016 campaign and they went into the regatta viewing it as a building and learning opportunity. The victory was in a relatively light fleet of just ten boats.

Going into the last day in 2nd position it was all to play for with the scoring format seeing each crew carry forward only their position in the fleet (ie. 2 for Aleh and Powrie) determining that the one race sailed on the final day was more heavily weighted in points than ever before.

 Aleh reports; “Sailed a tidy last race to take out the regatta. Was a short and sweet ten minute race and we aced it. Good fun!”

Attendance in the Laser class was an entirely different matter and over 100 international Olympic campaigners have been battling it out on Lake Garda through the week, Andy Maloney the winner benefitting from the Garda scoring when he pulled off a race win today and edged out his rivals.

After the Laser final race, in which only the top six sailors earned a start, the final positions were somewhat turned on their head Andy Maloney lifting himself from 5th place to the top of the podium while previous leader Tom Burton of Australia ended the regatta in 5th overall.

In the 49er skiff event the top eight placed boats headed out for three short sharp ‘stadium style’ races today to determine the podium places, the kiwis once again winning the day and taking gold.

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski were 4th, 2nd and 2nd in racing today, adding those points to their carry forward score of 3 because they were lying 3rd at the start of the day. It was enough to secure them the victory in the 24 boat fleet with a three point margin.

The Nacra 17 is new to Olympic competition set to debut as the mixed multihull class in 2016 and New Zealand’s pair of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders has had a solid week in Garda to finish 4th overall. The result bodes well for the future and Jones and Saunders proving they’re a crew to watch.

The next regatta in the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup is just over one week away; Delta Lloyd Regatta runs from 21-25 May, in the Netherlands.

EUROSAF 2013 Champions Sailing Cup: Vela Garda Trentino

New Zealand’s Final Results

Laser (100 plus boats)

1st Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team)

21st Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team)

Nacra 17 (20 boats)

4th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders

Women’s 470 (10 boats)

1st Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL Sailing Team)

Men’s 470 (29 boats)

15th James Turner and Carl Evans

49er (24 boats)

1st Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL Sailing Team)

Finn (60 boats)

27th Karl Purdie

37th Raymond Hall

48th David Hoogenboom



Will Tiller Wins 1010 4G Hong Kong International

13 May 2013

After three days and 76 matches, the 2013 1O1O 4G Match Racing International Regatta came to an end in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour with young Kiwi skipper, William Tiller, declared the winner. Keep Reading



Artemis Flipped, One Dead

10 May 2013

© 2013 ABC 7 News

 

Not much info yet.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fsan_francisco&id=9096653

http://crew.org.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=22100&start=10

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2013-05-09#.UYwb20qQOpc

 

 

 

And our thread here.

 

And some video on this one

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8656823/Olympic-champion-killed-in-Americas-Cup-capsize

 

Plus I have just read on Stuff.co.nz the other sailor hurt was Craig Monk.



Here's Des

9 May 2013



Teens take on ocean race in fleet's smallest boat

8 May 2013

From RNZYS:

One of the world’s oldest and harshest extreme sports, ocean racing is a challenge too tough for most adults, but 18 year old Cory McLennan of Greymouth (pictured), and 16 year old Edwin Delaat of Auckland, will team up to race Cory’s boat, Atom Ant, in the Royal New Zealand Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji Ocean Race starting on 1 June.

 

It was helping bring a boat home to Auckland after the Fiji race two years ago, that made Cory realise sailing was an addiction and on the water was where he wanted to be.

 

The South Island farmer’s son had sailed small boats since primary school, and is now an apprentice sailmaker, working in Auckland.

 

He purchased his boat, Atom Ant, earlier this year, with the goal of taking part in a solo race to Australia, in 2014.

 

The Musket Cove race is an important step on the road to what Cory hopes will be a lifetime career as a sailor. While most boats will compete with at least five, and as many as 12 crew, Cory and Edwin will be alone, working day and night to keep the boat moving and to keep themselves fed, watered and rested.

 

“I have watched people sail around the world since I was seven, and the idea of taking on the globe by sail is something I dream about and think about all the time,” he says.

 

His boat, the bright red Atom Ant, is well known on the Auckland race scene as a seaworthy and capable vessel, and Cory has had extensive support - practical, emotional and financial - from his parents.

 

For the race he has teamed up with 16 year old Edwin Delaat, and in their love of the sea, the two young men share a lot in common. At age 12, Edwin bought his own boat, called Crac a Jac, and the two have been relentless in their pursuit of greater and more ambitious sailing challenges. Edwin has raced offshore a number of times.

 

The two are working hard together to get the boat ready for the race. Extensive safety and communications equipment is required, as well as back up systems, food and drink, clothing, and of course a boat in top shape to race. Both have undertaken a mandatory Survival at Sea course, and first aid training, and the boat will be given the tick of approval by Yachting New Zealand’s safety inspectors before the race start.

 

Other entrants in the race are Outrageous Fortune, Wild Card, Equilibrium, V5, Newcastle Venture, Squealer, Vision and TeamVodafoneSailing.

 

The 1,150 mile marathon starts off Westhaven Marina in Auckland on Saturday 1 June and finishes at the resort of Musket Cove. The race is supported by Manson Anchors, PredictWind.com, Events Clothing, and TNL GAC Pindar.

 

www.rnzys.org.nz



RYC

7 May 2013



Crowdfunding - I learn a new word!

7 May 2013

I have to rush out and do some house peddling, so I'll post this as I received it:

 

Hi David,

 

Today we launched a video and crowd funding campaign for the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand to attend the Red Bull Youth Americas Cup. 

 

I’m wondering if you might be able to help us spread the word of this campaign? Either

Through www.crew.org.nz, your social media, or by email.  Any extra attention you’re able to bring will be extremely valuable to us!!

 

Here is some of the messaging we’re using :

 

-------

A group of New Zealand’s top youth sailors have an opportunity to compete at the first ever Youth Americas Cup Regatta in September 2013- and they need your support to help them win it for New Zealand.

 

We’ve started an online crowdfunding campaign to generate some funds for this team of under 24 year olds: the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand.  Check it out.  

 

 

http://www.thrillpledge.com/projects/support-nzl-sailors-for-youth-americas-cup

 

 

We’ll only get the funds (and you’ll only be charged) if we meet our funding target. Please consider pledging to this project and be one of the people that enables this talented group of youngsters carve a new pathway to sailing at the Americas cup. There are some great rewards as a bonus to all pledgers, and for those who want more, there are significant sponsorship opportunities on offer.

 

If you can’t pledge or make a donation, please at least forward this email  or ‘share’ the story from our Facebook to reach other people who can contribute.

 

A little bit- from a lot of people- goes an extremely long way.

 

Thanks for your help

 

 

Kristine Lederis | Yachting New Zealand

Disabled Sailing Coodinator| Communications & Commercial Support

P 09 361 4023 I M 021 871 301| E kristine@yachtingnz.org.nz



Elliott 5.9 'Hall of Fame' to Race in Opua Regatta

7 May 2013

All three of the first Elliott 5.9 trailer boats ever built, as well as several national champions and award-winning yachtsmen, are expected to race in the Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series Regatta, hosted by Opua Cruising Club on 25th and 26th May, 2013.

 

The original three Elliott 5.9s - Zoot Allures, Brzo and Mod (now renamed The Blurr) - were all built in 1983, and are still strong competitors today.

 

Zoot Allures, now owned and raced by Dave Cochran and representing Onerahi Yacht Club, is a multiple national champion. As is Brzo, now owned and raced by Gillian Williams and E5.9 class association president Nathan Williams.

 

The Blurr, which has yet to win a national championship, has been recently refurbished and is expected to be raced by a top crew from Auckland. Her owners - Simon Manning and Andy Robertson - have also refurbished another boat, Voodoo, which they will be racing in the regatta.

 

The Opua-based regatta will also see the return of the twice national champion Lambada. After a number of years away, Lambada has just relocated from Blenheim to Auckland, and is a welcome addition to the growing North Island fleet.

 

Northland Sailor of the Year Chris Hornell will be racing his E5.9 Cut Lunch in the forthcoming Opua-based regatta, and Volvo Ocean Race winner Mike Sanderson, who has recently bought twice national champion E5.9 Icebreaker, is hoped to be in attendance too.

 

Opua Cruising Club, with the support of Kerikeri sailmakers Willis Sails, will host the regatta, which is the first Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series Regatta of the 2013-2014 season.

 

The Notice of Race, Entry Form and Sailing Instructions are available on the OCC website at www.opuacruisingclub.co.nz/e59.  The NZ Elliott 5.9 Association also has an active Facebook page, where you can find out more about this growing class.



2013 Pied Piper Championships

6 May 2013

 

2013 is the 50th anniversary for the Pied Piper Class. In 1963 the first Piedy aptly named ‘Pied Piper’ was launched, and who would have thought back then the thrills, spills, and antics that would be associated with this class of yacht 50 years on.

This year’s nationals had it all, Torrential rain, thunder, lightening, squalls, protests and incredibly intense racing.

Saturday the competitors had to deal with the worst that the elements could throw at them with Race 1 underway after the first big rain squall to come through for the day. The crews dried out pretty quickly as the competition was hot. In breezy conditions Motamouse sailed a strong race to take the gun in race 1 with Moneyshot holding out Rat Catcher in third.

Half way through race 2 was abandoned when it was affected by a massive shift and torrential rain reduced visibility to almost zero. An aborted attempt at a restart due to another big shift meant that it was early afternoon before the second score had been carded. It was a very close finish with the top four finishing in close company with Moneyshot taking the gun followed by Motamouse and Rat Catcher.

Race 3 got underway after a short postponement and with an increase in breeze all the crews had their hands full managing the lively Piedys around the race course. Another close race ensued with Moneyshot holding out Motamouse for another win.

The fourth race of the day will be remembered for the close proximity of lightening in the race area, which made its presence felt making the sailors and race committee nervous and decided to call it a day and head for home after Moneyshot had got its third gun for the day. It was a welcomed decision as shortly after the Piedys had made it home a massive 50 knot squall and more torrential rain hit washing away any chance of a dock party for the evening.

Sunday morning the sun was shining, but reports on the radio of winds forecasted to reach 130kph in the afternoon with 4 races scheduled racing got underway with no delay. Another tight finish saw Moneyshot hold out Motamouse again for its fourth consecutive gun and going into the final 3 races, held a 3 point lead over Motamouse.

Race 6 and it was time for Motamouse to make its move as it sailed an impressive race to take the gun with Rat Catcher on the improve to take second and Puddle Duck  in front of Moneyshot falling off the podium for the first time in the regatta. The cat was amongst the pigeons as there were 2 more races and a drop to come into play.

Race 7 and everyone on the podium knew it was do or die and pushing hard  on the start with an individual recall for Moneyshot and Motamouse meant it was going to be a tough ask to get a gun in the race for either crew. Puddle Duck cleared  out after having a fantastic start to take the gun with Motamouse second, ahead of Moneyshot who sneaked into third when Rat Catcher had an issue with their Kite Halyard caused them to go shrimping on the hoist.

 

Going into the last race Motamouse had a one point lead, but also had to beat Moneyshot in the last race to secure the title as a tied result would give Moneyshot would get the title on count back. Race 8 started match race style with both boats luffing hard before the start trying desperately to give or avoid an infringement. At the top mark Rat Catcher was leading which went on to take the win in the final race with Puddle Duck on her heels. In third Moneyshot had a slight lead over Motamouse heading into the downwind where both crews had aggressive kite sets as they arrived at the separator mark. Moneyshot held onto its margin, extending slightly at the gate where they elected to cover Motamouse all the way up the final beat.

Motamouse closed the margin at the top mark and a frantic luffing dual insinuated with Motamouse to leeward and Moneyshot desperately trying not to infringe. At the top mark rounding Moneyshot had regained the upper hand as Motamouse had to perform two extra tacks to round the mark. Moneyshot had its kite up and set and was heading to the finish , Motamouse was sailing hard trying to get there dirty air on to Moneyshot as they were giving it everything to stay in clear air. With 100 metres to go it looked like Motamouse was going to run out of runway to overtake when all of a sudden a big squall came out of the NW and flattened both Piedys causing all sorts of dramas for the crews as both boats were on their ear side by side, kites flapping uncontrollably. It was Motamouse who recovered quickest and re hoisted there kite to surge past Moneyshot to go on and take the national title by 1 point in a thrilling and spilling finish!

What a massive weekend of racing! Everyone who participated had a great time despite the weather! Big thanks go to our loyal sponsors and supporters of the Piedys, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, North Sails, Mt Gay Rum, and Burnsco Marine.

 

Congratulations to Tom Kearney and Team Motamouse for a well sailed and hard fought victory. Already looking forward to 2014!!!

 

1st Motamouse

2nd Moneyshot

3rd Rat Catcher

4th Puddle Duck

5th Infatuation

6th Panic Mouse

7th Jim Beam

8th Rat Attack



KERIKERI IS TOP SCHOOL IN NZ TEAM SAILING NATIONALS

4 May 2013

Five days of intense racing showed Kerikeri High School to be the top team in the Secondary School Team Racing Nationals held this week at Lake Taupo. Around 230 sailors competing in 29 teams from schools as far afield as Kerikeri in the north and Timaru in the south descended on Taupo for the annual national regatta. Conditions were mixed with winds ranging from heavy on the first day to light on the Friday. Match races of around 5-10 minutes were contested between two teams of three boats over a series of three round robins. Points are awarded for each race and aggregated over the five day event, effectively filtering out the most winning team.

“Tauranga Boys’ College showed some good sailing skills to head the field after the first round robin but it was the fine team work of Kerikeri High that shone through in the end,” says NZ Team Sailing President Derry Godbert. “Kerikeri won this event in Auckland open waters last year and were deserved winners on the lake this year as well. Taken all round it was a great event. The young sailors showed the talent base of yachting in New Zealand is still high, the winds were sufficiently varied so that no one team was advantaged by body weight and the students enjoyed their time in Taupo, both on and off the water.”

Diocesan School for Girls finished seventh in the event and was awarded the Jim & Margaret Park Trophy for the highest ranked all-girls team.

The teams were pooled during the five days into three groups and a repecharge system employed to shift teams up and down between pools according to their race results. Napier Girls’ High School ended the week at the top of the Silver pool and New Plymouth Girls’ High School headed the Bronze pool.

“It was rewarding to see some teams make steady progress throughout the week,” says Lake Taupo Yacht Club Regatta Coordinator Paul Dawson. “Both Kerikeri and Dio performed better and better as the week evolved and this showed in the final outcome. But then so did a team such as Waimea College. The local derby went to Tauhara College who finished second in the bronze pool, two places ahead of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, with both teams learning immensely from the racing, and from mingling with some of the best young sailors in New Zealand. The Club is pleased to have hosted the event and is thankful to the many volunteers and local supporters that made the regatta such a success.”

The final results are:

Gold pool

1.            Kerikeri High School

2.            Tauranga Boys’ College

3.            Mahurangi  College

Silver pool

1.            Napier Girls’ High School

2.            Christchurch Boys’ High School

3.            Glendowie College

Bronze pool

1.            New Plymouth Girls’ High School

2.            Tauhara College

3.            Whangarei Boys’ High School

 

Paul Dawson

Regatta Coordinator

Lake Taupo Yacht Club

dawson3@xtra.co.nz

027-586-5226     Derry Godbert

President

NZ Team Sailing Association

godbert@xtra.co.nz

027-294-6100    

 

Background on Secondary School Team Sailing

-              Unlike normal fleet yacht racing where competition is for individual placings, team racing involves a team of 3 boats per race (each with 2 sailors) racing another team of 3 boats.

-              Using similar modifications to the racing rules of sailing and tactics to Match Racing, the teams try to control the finishing order of boats so that the aggregate score of the team betters their opponent’s. 

-              Tactics such as covering, dial ups, luffing, mark traps, pass backs make for exciting racing for both competitors and spectators.

-              The racing is quick fire, each racing last 5-10 minutes.

-              Racing is umpired with 3 umpire boats following each race and imposing penalty turns. There is effectively no appeal process after the race. A race is decided on the water!

-              The yachts (420’s) are all standardised in their set up so as to be equal and the teams swap out of boats after each race to ensure no set of boats perform better to any one team’s advantage.  The sails are all brightly coloured in team sets, so racing makes an excellent and colourful visual spectacle.

-              Races follow a Starboard S Course, always moving to the right from the start, with a windward beat, beam reach, a run, another beam reach, and a beat to a separate finish.  Hence at any one time there may be three races spread out over different parts of the race course.  

 

-     First discussions and a pilot event sailing Sunbursts in 1981/2 at Wakatere. The first official regatta was in May 1984 and Secondary Schools Yachting Association NZ (now NZ Team Sailing Association) was formed.

-     Subsequently an Inter Dominion contest was set up to be hosted alternatively by each country. The NZ Nationals are the trials for the school teams that represent NZ.

-     The Country was initially divided into 17 regions, spread fairly evenly from North to South. Only the top teams from each region plus a team from the Cook Islands competed at the Nationals. Three Girl’s regions were added in 1994 bringing the total number of teams eligible at the Nationals to 21. Veteran Race official and Chief Umpire Jim Park and wife Margaret donated a special prize for the Girls.

-     The first post school NZ team to go overseas went to Sydney in 1995 to finish 2nd in the Australian Opens. In 1997 most of the sailors in that team went to the ISAF team Worlds in Miami and came fourth. In 1999 and 2001 they went to Ireland and Czech Republic winning gold in each case. In 2003 the ISAF Worlds were held in Auckland and a NZ team came 3rd (at this stage, the current 420s replaced the Sunbursts).

-     In 2007, the format was changed to open entry.  The only qualification is that a team must attend a regional ranking regatta so as to demonstrate competent handling of the 420s, and assist with ranking the teams into fleets of ability so as to get as much even racing as possible. This raised the team numbers to 32 at one stage. There are 29 entries at Taupo in 2013 from around 45 school teams participating at present.  With 8 sailors in each team (6 sailing, 2 reserves), it is one of largest Secondary School events nationally.



Virtual Sailors Get Real

4 May 2013

On Saturday 4 May 2013, a 38ft yacht will set off from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in this year’s Cervantes Trophy crewed entirely by sailors who first met on Sailonline.org. Sailonline (SOL) is probably the most realistic virtual sailing navigation simulator on the internet and hosts races around the globe – some courses are raced in partnership with real yacht racing and other organisations, while others can be pure works of fiction. The boats sailed on Sailonline range widely from longships and Tall Ships, to modern yachts and ocean racers.

 

SOLers (those who sail on Sailonline.org), are a mixed bunch – from landlubbers who love the idea of sailing, through current and former inshore and offshore and even ocean racers, right up to an America’s Cup yacht designer. From all walks of life and all ages SOLers meet online to race, to learn about sailing, to learn and hone navigations skills (even learning how to use current yacht-racing routing software). It is a true home of sailing.

 

Many SOLers do sail and do race yachts of various kinds but for the first time ever, a group of SOLers from across the globe are forming a crew to race, in reality, in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race.

 

Their boat is Jubilant, a beautiful Moody 38s, owned and lived aboard by her skipper who has worked tirelessly to make sure that she now meets all the technical requirements for racing. This weekend, in the Cervantes Trophy, Jubilant and her new crew will be seeing if they can complete their first Fastnet qualifying race. Jubilant’s crew pool is made up of SOLers from Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Italy, the UK and the USA. For this first qualifying race, crewmembers come from Bermuda and the UK.

 

Fair winds and following seas Jubilant!


Check it out here.

 

 

 



Anasazi Girl

3 May 2013



Here's Des

3 May 2013



Baltic Lifejackets New Zealand Women’s National Keelboat Championships 2013

29 April 2013

 

From RNZYS:

 

Karleen Dixon Wins the Baltic Lifejackets New Zealand Women’s Keelboat National Championships 2013.

 

Skipper                               Place     Points                                                                                            

Karleen Dixon                     1st          11pts

Claudia Pierce                     2nd         20pts

Samantha Osborne              3rd          22pts

Joy Adams                          4th          22pts

Emmanuelle Merlo               5th          25pts

Melinda Henshaw                 6th          35pts

Leslie Goddard                    7th          47pts

 

What a fabulous event sailed on the Waitemata Harbour in the Farr MRX fleet this has been! Karleen Dixon has won with a convincing score, four first places on day one in blustery conditions and a tougher day with a 2nd, 5th, 4th & 1st today, a fantastic day to be out on the water! Karleen is a founding Women’s Keelboat competitor starting in 1990 when the competition was won by Leslie Egnot.

 

Day one was marked by gusts of 35knots and rain squalls delaying racing, but these were perfect conditions for a crew who had sailed all summer long together. Not putting a foot wrong on the first day gave Karleen and her crew of Kelly Fong, Megan Kensington, Jenny Egnot, Keryn McMaster, Paula Satterthwaite, Jennifer Jamieson and Bridgette Suckling, a perfect start to a very competitive regatta and an almost unbeatable score. Day two proved to be a different day with a balmy sunny day of 10-15knots wind in a south to south-west direction. The first race of the day was delayed until 1023hrs, but the competition was hot as the finish was a only minute between six of the competitors.

 

Claudia Pierce and her RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme crew of Hannah Osborne, Paige Cook, Marie Kent, Charlotte Moss, Michelle Tait and Janelle Peat, came back from a disappointing first day of mixed bag of finishes, to second on day two with a third, two seconds and a first. This gives Claudia second place overall. Claudia was ecstatic with her second day, wishing the first could have been as good.

In third place is 2012 winner Samantha Osborne. Sam and her crew had a fight on their hands to keep the title this year.

Although Sam had a regatta of ups and downs they still finished in third position overall.

 

Coming in fourth is Joy Adams from Bucklands Beach Yacht Club. Joy was a founding crew member of the Women’s Keelboat Nationals. Celia Sneddon who sails with Joy was one of the driving forces in creating this event in 1990. To this end it is fantastic to see them continuing to bring young sailors into the competition and compete so convincingly! Joy and her crew have been sailing together during the RNZYS Tuesday Series and was in the top three of every race apart from two disappointing 6th places, a total of 22 points overall.

Fifth Pace was an entry from Cercle Nautique Caledonien, a New Calendonian Yacht Club. Luarence Bouchet, Sailing Manager at CNC, said “We are happy to be here, we are really enjoying the sailing and competition. It is good to have this level and we will definitely be here next year.” The Noumea crew had a great start to the regatta with a 2nd place and were consistent throughout the regatta. We look forward to seeing them in 2014.

Melinda Henshaw had a not so great regatta, a new crew with some never sailed with before left them missing the quick and precise moments that can cost the crew valuable time. All in all Melinda and her crew never let up and were highly competitive to the end. Said Melinda “The results never show how close the racing was. At times there were only seconds between the crews but small timing and learning errors cost us. We really enjoyed ourselves though. It is such a great regatta”

The final crew who are from Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club have really struck a chord with their counterparts. It hasn’t gone their way but for a as always they really enjoyed the regatta. Leslie Goddard said a t Prizegiving tonight “we have had so much fun. It has been great. Thanks to everyone for inviting us and thanks to everyone for such a great regatta.” We look forward to seeing them again also.

 

To wrap it up, well it could have gone to any of these skippers. The results don’t show the real story… do they ever? The level of racing has been high in some trying Auckland weather but eight races were run, some in 25 knots and some in Champagne conditions. Our thanks to the MRX Association for their boats and to the Race Management team lead by Celia Carson who was herself a NZ Women’s Keelboat competitor, who have worked so hard to make this a fantastic Women’s sailing event.

Congratulations to Karleen Dixon and her crew and to all these great sailors.



ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres: Gold for Maloney and Meech, Bronze for Junior

28 April 2013

 

From YNZ:

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech from New Zealand have won gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres in the 49erFX class securing the victory today after six days of racing off the French coast. And Josh Junior has taken his first podium finish at a World Cup Regatta with bronze in the Finn.

Video:

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech on winning gold 

Josh Junior on winning bronze

“We’re definitely happy that we won our first World Cup event in Europe,” says Alex Maloney.

Starting the day with a lead of 18 points the young kiwis were mindful that the changing nature of medal race day meant that anything could happen. In the 49erFX class only the top eight placed crews get to take part in the last day of the regatta, sailing three quick-fire ten minute races on a short ‘stadium course’ with narrow boundaries.  Each of the three races carry double points weighting and poor results on day six can unravel a leading margin very quickly.

“It was tough, it was quite stressful out there,” says Maloney talking about today’s racing. “With it being so light and shifty the leaders changed all the time.”

But Alex Maloney and Molly Meech didn’t falter at the final hurdle, staying out of trouble and producing a two 5ths and a 4th on the race track today which well and truly secured them the victory. The silver medal winners Charlotte Dobson and Mary Rook representing Great Britain finished 14 points behind the kiwis, with Annemiek Bekering and Claire Blom of the Netherlands collecting the bronze.

Hyeres is the final regatta of the 2012-13 ISAF Sailing World Cup Series and this result secures Maloney and Meech the overall series victory in the 49erFX counting Gold in Melbourne, Silver in Palma and now Gold in Hyeres.

The women’s skiff is new to the Olympic programme for Rio 2016, and while Maloney and Meech have proven they’re the crew to watch, they know there is lot of water yet to pass under the bridge; “It’s just the beginning, most of the girls are really new in the boat so we’ve all got a long way to go,” says Molly Meech. “And it’s just going to keep getting harder I guess.”

The girls were supported at this regatta, and also at the last round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup by coach Nathan Handley, who was the man behind Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie’s Olympic gold medal winning campaign.

For 23 year old Josh Junior who represents Wellington’s Worser Bay Boating Club, a bronze medal in the Finn class is a career highlight to date.

Lying 4th heading out today Junior had nothing to lose and all to gain managing to put together two great medal races placing 3rd, then 4th. It was enough to see him get past Postma (NED) on the leader-board and stand on the podium.

“I’ve had a really good week, there doesn’t seem to be much that’s gone wrong,” says Junior at the end of the day. “I’ve just kept consistent and kept knocking off good results, and then had two good medal races today and managed to finish on the podium, so I’m stoked!”

Sailing in only his second ever medal race stage in the Finn Josh Junior was able to draw on the experience of team-mate Andrew Murdoch (who finished 12th overall) to prepare himself.

“Andrew Murdoch was out there helping me. We talked a little bit about what might happen, and what we were looking for, and then we set a game plan and went for it,” Junior says.

 A further three kiwis were in action in today’s medal races also returning top eight results for New Zealand in the Laser, 49er and Men’s 470 events.

Andy Maloney sailed well on the final day in the Lasers; with a 2nd and a 5th he has finished this regatta in 7th overall.

After a disappointing opening day in the 49er class kiwis Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski improved throughout the six days of the event making huge gains to wrap things up in 7th place.

And in the Men’s 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox come away with an 8th overall with more medal race experience under their belt and plenty of positives to build on from here.

Many of the team now return to New Zealand for a break before the next international event on their calendars.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres, 2013

New Zealand’s Final Results

49ERFX

1st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech

FINN

3rd Josh Junior

13th Andrew Murdoch (NZL Sailing Team)

49ER

7th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski - 49er (NZL Sailing Team) (19, 17, 5, 1, 7, 7, 13, 22, 16, 1)

LASER

7th Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team)

12th Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team)

23rd Thomas Saunders

50th Andrew McKenzie (2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team)

91st Michael Cate

107th Jack Collinson

MEN’S 470

8th Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (NZL Sailing Team)

31st Francisco Lardies and Luke Stevenson

NACRA17

12th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders

20th Tomer Simhony and Nicole van der Velden



ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres: Maloney and Meech storm into the lead

27 April 2013

From YNZ:

 

New Zealand’s 49erFX pair Alex Maloney and Molly Meech has stormed into the lead with one day to run at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres on now in France.

Kiwi sailors will also feature in the medal races in the Finn, 49er, Laser and Men’s 470 events with Finn sailor Josh Junior the next best placed of the team and in with a shot at a podium finish.

Conditions were challenging, the official report describing; “Tricky conditions have been evident throughout the week and the fifth day of racing was no different. An early morning easterly breeze faded as the day progressed.”

But Alex Maloney and Molly Meech dominated the day despite that, with two race wins and a 2nd place the kiwis, who are currently ranked world #2, were the standout sailors on the women’s skiff course today.

Their results see them overtake Charlotte Dobson and Mary Rook (GBR) for the lead who are relegated to 2nd overall after their showing on day five which included a 6th, an 8th and a black flag. The kiwis have opened an 18 point clear margin on the Brits as the head into the last day of the regatta.

“Final day tomorrow, with three stadium style races,” explains Alex Maloney. “Should be interesting with double points, boundaries and ten minutes races.... Anything could happen!”

Josh Junior will go into the Finn medal races in 4th place overall, just one point behind Pieter Jan Postma (NED) lying 3rd. British sailors Giles Scott and Andrew Mills hold the top two spots at the end of the penultimate day.

While Junior was 9th then 25th on the water today he discards the 25th and will go into the medal races hunting his first ever podium finish at a major international since switching to the heavy-weight dinghy around one year ago.

Andrew Murdoch placed 21st and 16th in the challenging conditions seeing him slip from the top ten and miss the cut for tomorrow’s medal races and marking a 13th place finish at this regatta. Despite the lapse in form today Murdoch’s results throughout the regatta are encouraging given he is still in a learning phase after switching classes very recently.

Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox have made the cut for the Men’s 470 medal race and will head into tomorrow lying 9th in the standings. Consistent, but not stellar today they were 10th and 15th in their two races.

“Just made it into medal race after a hard day in testing conditions,” reports Paul Snow-Hansen. “We will have two double point races tomorrow with the rest of the top ten. Very close on points between 10th and 5th place and different conditions forecasted for tomorrow. Looking forward to see how we go!”

Andy Maloney will start the Laser medal race lying 7th in the standings after inching one rung up the leader-board ladder after today’s two races. He was 13th then 15th and holds 78 points meaning he is well within reach of those placed just ahead of him, but a long way back from the leading trio.

Brazil’s Robert Scheidt is out in front with 30 points, with Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) and Tom Burton (AUS) in 2nd and 3rd all eyeing the podium places. 

Things didn’t go the way Sam Meech had hoped, day five proving his least successful and seeing him slip from the top ten to record an overall finishing result of 12th place. Like Murdoch though, Meech has delivered some highlights through five days of racing and will go away to build on the positives and take the lessons from the negatives.

In the 49er Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski are even further up the standings after day five of racing. Taking their second race win of the regatta in today’s final race the young NZL Sailing Team pair is now in 6th position, earning themselves a start in 49er medal races on tomorrow for the top eight placed crews.

While the leaders have a significant points margin the nature of the last day, which for the skiffs includes three short sharp races worth double points on a tightly defined course, guarantees high pressure racing where big losses and big gains are possible.

New Zealand’s Nacra17 crew of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders were agonisingly close to getting a medal race start, but will finish in 12th overall just one point behind the crew placed 10th.

Tomorrow promises high pressure, big stakes racing with medal races across all the Olympic class fleets and prize-giving to follow.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres, 2013

New Zealand’s standings after day five

49ERFX

1st Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech - 49er FX (3, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 1, 1, 1, 2)

FINN

4th Josh Junior (4, 8, 5, 3, 6, 9, 25)

13th Andrew Murdoch (NZL Sailing Team) (5, 7, 8, 16, BFD, 21, 16)

49ER

6th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski - 49er (NZL Sailing Team) (19, 17, 5, 1, 7, 7, 13, 22, 16, 1)

LASER

7th Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team) (13, 12, 19, 15, 10, 13, 15)

12th Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team) (3, 18, 10, 14, 15, 48, 29)

25th Thomas Saunders (7, 11, 46, 33, 38, 24, 23)

50th Andrew McKenzie (2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team) (48, 52, 50, 55, 32, 21, 50)

91st Michael Cate (47, 35, 35, 23, 8, 38, 41)

107th Jack Collinson (50, 59, 55, 47, 51, 34, 22)

 

MEN’S 470

9th Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (NZL Sailing Team) (2, 11, 19, 10, 12, 10, 15)

31st Francisco Lardies and Luke Stevenson (18, 32, 30, OCS, 27, 29, 14)

NACRA17

12th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (26, 5, 9, 6, 11, 12, 12, 8, 10, 9)

20th Tomer Simhony and Nicole van der Velden (19, 28, 25, 15, 19, 15, 13)



Look Who's Coming to NZ

25 April 2013

 

WORLD-VOYAGING TALL SHIP TO VISIT AUCKLAND

LUNENBURG – She’s circled the world five times, introducing more than 1000 men and women to

the challenges and rewards of traditional sailing, and now the award-winning sail training ship, the

Barque Picton Castle, is headed to Auckland.

Paul Bishop, Head of Race Directorate, is “pleased to confirm” the 179-foot classic square rigger has

joined the fleet of ships participating in Sail Training International’s Sydney to Auckland Tall Ships

Regatta this October.

“Picton Castle last raced with us in 2009 [Charleston to Boston, USA] and she proved to be a terrific

addition to the racing fleet,” said Mr. Bishop. “We are delighted to welcome her back into our events.”

Sailing under the command of Capt. Daniel Moreland – one of the world’s foremost authorities on

traditional vessels and Sail Training International’s 2011 Sail Trainer of the Year – the Picton Castle

travels the globe offering seamanship training and adventure to a truly international audience.

On her most recent circumnavigation, the ship set sail with 40 trainee sailors and 12 professional

mariners, men and women representing more than a dozen nationalities, and ranging in age from 18 to

70.

Aboard Picton Castle everyone works to sail and maintain the ship: they stand watch, take their turn at

the wheel, handle sail, haul on lines, go aloft (optional), scrub the deck and help in the galley.

Shipboard workshops include rope and wire splicing, handling small boats under sail, oars and engine,

ancient, modern and celestial navigation, weather, sailmaking and small boat carpentry.

Currently in the Cook Islands, the Picton Castle sailed from Nova Scotia on the East Coast of Canada

in 2013 as part of a multi-year voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Since transiting the Panama Canal in

December, ship and crew have visited the Galapagos, Pitcairn Island, Mangareva, Huahine and Tahiti

in French Polynesia; and Aitutaki, Rarotonga and Palmerston Atoll in the Cooks. She will next set sail

for Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga.

No previous sailing experience is required to join the Picton Castle, although candidates must be of

good health and there is an interview process.

The ship is currently accepting applications to sail in the Cook Islands this June and July, or as part of

an extended voyage beginning at Rarotonga in August and including travels to Tonga, Norfolk Island,

Sydney, Auckland, the Bay of Islands, Chatham Island, a stunning sea passage to Pitcairn Island, then

on to Mangareva, the Marquesas, Nuku Hiva, the Tuamotus, the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa

and Fiji.



Here's Des

25 April 2013



ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres: Finals underway, snakes and ladders for NZL

25 April 2013

 

Image Alex Maloney and Molly Meech in action on day three

© Thom Touw Photography http://photo.thomtouw.com

Day three at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres brought champagne sailing with nice waves, sun and good easterly breezes returning some excellent results from most of the New Zealand contingent.

Four kiwi teams remain in the top five of their fleet, with a further four placed within the top ten as they head into day four of the six day regatta (and day two of finals). 

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech had their best day of the regatta yet opening the finals series with a race win, and backing that up with a 3rd and a 4th. The young skiff sailors move up the ranks again and now sit 2nd overall four points adrift of the leaders Dobson and Rook of Great Britain.

“Epic day on the water with three intense races in crazy waves,” reports Alex Maloney. “We had a good day, moving up the leader board, but there is definitely room for improvement. Pretty excited for similar conditions tomorrow.”

Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox took a slide from 2nd place to 7th in the Men’s 470. Their coach Hamish Willcox describes how things unfolded;

“The boys made a couple of basic mistakes and paid dearly,” says Hamish Willcox. “Race one they were in 6th place around top mark and gained a place each leg of the course to be 3rd before the final run to the finish. Then, disaster as they capsized and lost nine boats and finished 11th.”

After a great start in race two Willcox and Snow-Hansen then chose the wrong side of the track, losing ground, and places to their rivals, to collect a 19th; “Still there is tomorrow to redeem themselves,” says their coach.

The kiwis are on 13 points, equal to the French crew in 6th position, and with three more days of racing they are well within reach of the leaders.

New Zealand has three representatives sitting top ten in the hotly contested Laser fleet including Sam Meech in 4th (13 points), Thomas Saunders in 5th (18 points) and Andy Maloney moving up to 10th (25 points).

While the top two places in the 113-strong fleet are unchanged after today, beyond that there was some serious shuffling in the standings with nearly all the top placed Laser sailors having at least one average result on the water coupled with the transition in scoring from qualifiers to finals.

While Meech lost one position (to Brazil’s Robert Scheidt), both Saunders and Maloney improved at least two places up the leader board. Maloney now enters the top ten as the regatta hits the midway mark and the points on offer really make a difference.

Super consistent so far Josh Junior continues to hold 4th place in the Finn class after placing 8th and 5th in today’s racing. On nine points he is just four adrift of the overall leader Pieter Jan Postma of the Netherlands.

The points behind Junior are tight and just three back, and in 7th place, is team-mate Andrew Murdoch.

Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski have just had their best day of the regatta also, colleting their first race win, plus another top five finish in the 49er skiff event. The NZL Sailing Team duo rocket up the board; after lying 16th at the outset of day three Hansen and Porebski are now in 10th place as the pressure starts to mount.

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders have opened the finals stage in fine form racing the Nacra 17 mixed multihull. The pair, who were lying 26th heading into today, clocked up a 5, 9, 6 scorecard and jump up to 13th overall.

Like the 49erFX the Nacra 17 is new to the Olympic programme marking the return of the multihull and offering a mixed female, male combination.

Both Jones and Saunders have represented New Zealand at ISAF Youth World Championships, and Saunders was one half of New Zealand’s Men’s 470 pair who finished 5th at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Jason Saunders, along with Sam Meech and Andy Maloney competing in the Laser fleet, will sail an AC45 as part of the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand at September’s Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

Racing continues in Hyeres tomorrow with an increase in wind forecast. Each fleet has two more days of finals racing before the Saturday’s medal races and prize-giving.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres, 2013

New Zealand’s standings after day three

FINN

4th Josh Junior (4, 8, 5)

7th Andrew Murdoch (NZL Sailing Team) (5, 7, 8)

49ER

10th Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski - 49er (NZL Sailing Team) (19, 17, 5, 1)

49ERFX

2nd Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech - 49er FX (3, 1, 3, 4)

LASER

4th Sam Meech (NZL Sailing Team) (3, 18, 10)

5th Thomas Saunders (7, 11, 46)

10th Andy Maloney (NZL Sailing Team) (13, 12, 19

54th Andrew McKenzie (2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team) (48, 52, 50)

99th Michael Cate (47, 35, 35)

111th Jack Collinson (50, 59, 54)

 

MEN’S 470

7th Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (NZL Sailing Team) (2, 11, 19)

29th Francisco Lardies and Luke Stevenson (18, 32, 30)

NACRA17

13th Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (26, 5, 9, 6)

21st Tomer Simhony and Nicole van der Velden (19, 28, 25, 15)

About ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres

The 2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup – Hyeres is set to take place 22-27 April where more than 800 sailors across ten Olympic and two Paralympic events will sail. After regattas in Melbourne, Australia, Miami, USA and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, the ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères will bring the 2012-13 series to a close and will feature the world’s top sailors.

To reflect lessons and sailor feedback from ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma modifications have been made to the scoring format in Hyères. The Qualifying Series for ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères has been shortened to two days. The first race of the Final Series shall be a non discardable carry forward race with points equal to a boat’s final rank in the qualifying series. Three days of Final Series racing then culminates in the Medal Stage where the 49er and 49erFX will sail three Stadium Races and the remaining eight fleets will sail two Medal Races.

About the NZL Sailing Team

NZL Sailing Team includes New Zealand’s top Olympic campaigners who share the ultimate goal to win Olympic medals for New Zealand at the Rio Games in 2016.

NZL Sailing Team sailors all started out at grass roots yacht clubs around the country and with commitment, dedication and drive have risen to be world class athletes; they work hard in the gym, train long hours on the water and are supported by great coaches.



LARGE NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL EVENT SAILED IN TAUPO DURING HOLIDAYS

24 April 2013

This year the Lake Taupo Yacht Club will host the Secondary School Team Racing Nationals, one of the larger sailing events of the year and also one of the larger secondary school sporting events in general. Twenty nine teams will be competing for the honours of best NZ secondary school, as well as the right to represent New Zealand at the Inter Dominions ANZAC Teams Sailing Regatta in Brisbane.

The regatta is a five-day event consisting of racing between teams of three yachts, each with two sailors, against another team of three. The aggregate of the three boats determines the winning team, so it is not necessary to be the first boat across the line. Teams then go on through the week competing against other teams until a national champion is found.

“Many think of the one-on-one match racing as chess on water,” says NZ Team Sailing President Derry Godbert, “but this takes tactics to yet another level. It forces sailors with mixed abilities and skills to work together to out-smart and out-sail their opponents. The races are fast and determined on the spot. Add in the tight courses and it makes for an exciting event”.

The yachts are standardised and teams swap boats after races. Each race is around 5-10 minutes. Umpires follow each race and impose penalty turns on the spot.

Last year’s winning school Kerikeri High School has again entered a strong team. However Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer Hamish Hey says to watch out for Westlake Boys they looked impressive winning the recent North Island regional champs. There are some of New Zealand’s top young sailors heading to Taupo for the event. That’s hardly surprising when you consider that many of the sailors representing New Zealand at world class regattas have come through this event. It is one of the strengths behind New Zealand sailing.”

The event also brings out the local rivalrys. Marlbrough Girls will be keen to reverse the close second Marlborough Boys at the recent Top of the South champs. Taupo teams Tauhara College and Taupo-nui-a-Tia College will be fighting for local honours, as well as taking full advantage of their home course.

Lake Taupo Yacht Club Commodore Dean Roe is thrilled with the opportunity to host the event that will bring around 230 sailors and their support crew to town for the week. “The Club is well positioned to cater for large sailing regattas, and the town is geared towards accommodating large numbers. However, a word of warning to those who have a tendency to get off balance – the water is cold,” warns Dean. “However for those less inclined to get wet, this is a spectacular event. The yachts have colourful matched sails, and several races will occur together in a tight course just off the main street of town. We look forward to the Ngati Tuwharetoa welcome on Monday morning and the action-packed week to follow.”

Dean Roe

Commodore

Lake Taupo Yacht Club

commodore@ltyc.org.nz

07-377-2997        Derry Godbert

President

NZ Team Sailing Association

godbert@xtra.co.nz

027-294-6100     Hamish Hey

NZCT Regional Support Officer

Yachting New Zealand

hamish@yachtingnz.org.nz

021-433-531

 

Background on Secondary School Team Sailing

-              Unlike normal fleet yacht racing where competition is for individual placings, team racing involves a team of 3 boats per race (each with 2 sailors) racing another team of 3 boats.

-              Using similar modifications to the racing rules of sailing and tactics to Match Racing, the teams try to control the finishing order of boats so that the aggregate score of the team betters their opponent’s. 

-              Tactics such as covering, dial ups, luffing, mark traps, pass backs make for exciting racing for both competitors and spectators.

-              The racing is quick fire, each racing last 5-10 minutes.

-              Racing is umpired with 3 umpire boats following each race and imposing penalty turns. There is effectively no appeal process after the race. A race is decided on the water!

-              The yachts (420’s) are all standardised in their set up so as to be equal and the teams swap out of boats after each race to ensure no set of boats perform better to any one team’s advantage.  The sails are all brightly coloured in team sets, so racing makes an excellent and colourful visual spectacle.

-              Races follow a Starboard S Course, always moving to the right from the start, with a windward beat, beam reach, a run, another beam reach, and a beat to a separate finish.  Hence at any one time there may be three races spread out over different parts of the race course.  

 

-     First discussions and a pilot event sailing Sunbursts in 1981/2 at Wakatere. The first official regatta was in May 1984 and Secondary Schools Yachting Association NZ (now NZ Team Sailing Association) was formed.

-     Subsequently an Inter Dominion contest was set up to be hosted alternatively by each country. The NZ Nationals are the trials for the school teams that represent NZ.

-     The Country was initially divided into 17 regions, spread fairly evenly from North to South. Only the top teams from each region plus a team from the Cook Islands competed at the Nationals. Three Girl’s regions were added in 1994 bringing the total number of teams eligible at the Nationals to 21. Veteran Race official and Chief Umpire Jim Park and wife Margaret donated a special prize for the Girls.

-     The first post school NZ team to go overseas went to Sydney in 1995 to finish 2nd in the Australian Opens. In 1997 most of the sailors in that team went to the ISAF team Worlds in Miami and came fourth. In 1999 and 2001 they went to Ireland and Czech Republic winning gold in each case. In 2003 the ISAF Worlds were held in Auckland and a NZ team came 3rd (at this stage, the current 420s replaced the Sunbursts).

-     In 2007, the format was changed to open entry.  The only qualification is that a team must attend a regional ranking regatta so as to demonstrate competent handling of the 420s, and assist with ranking the teams into fleets of ability so as to get as much even racing as possible. This raised the team numbers to 32 at one stage. There are 29 entries at Taupo in 2013 from around 45 school teams participating at present.  With 8 sailors in each team (6 sailing, 2 reserves), it is one of largest Secondary School events nationally.