Racing is dying?

[waikiore 518]

Good points mischief, as many of us started the coastal in smaller craft, the classic division is a mystery  too with Dehler Dufour and Bavaria in there as opposed to Kiwi Kauri boats ..... 

[Jono G 45]

WTF.

So I heard about the Pons getting a new series going. 2 handed, low entry fees etc. Went and had a look at the dates. 2 of the first 3 races are the same as Gold Cup days. I haven't checked against the RYC short handed series. Too scared to.

[Kestrahl 11]

On 3/09/2025 at 3:33 AM, 1paulg said:

Definitely the cost of storing your boat and the cost ot repairs if someone cant do their own for a smallish boat makes it uneconomic to keep on top of things .hence we are starting to see empty small berths in marinas and unkept boats on moorings

I spent a couple of years club racing in Denmark. We had an Omega 30 ( 30ft Ron Holland ) design, and the marina berth + winter storage on land was $1100 NZD per year. Yet the local club was still struggling for numbers and the average age was 60+. Danes have way more disposable income as the wages are higher and houses outside of the big cities are relatively cheap. The high costs in NZ don't help but it doesn't seem to be the primary reason. There were younger boat owners around, but they were cruising and not participating in club racing. If anything the club racing is to serious, and what seems to be growing, if anything is more fun oriented racing without handicaps or short handed point to point. They have a race called the Silver Rudder which is single handed 134 miles around an Island. No handicaps and basically no rules other than the boat has to have minimum 22% ballast ratio ( for monohulls ) and your not allowed to trapeze. The entry limit of 450 yachts is always reached. 

[Max89 2]

Make marina berths more reasonably priced and more people will dock at Westhaven and race

[Jonquil 545]

On 1/10/2025 at 9:25 AM, Jono G said:

WTF.

So I heard about the Pons getting a new series going. 2 handed, low entry fees etc. Went and had a look at the dates. 2 of the first 3 races are the same as Gold Cup days. I haven't checked against the RYC short handed series. Too scared to.

Seems a theme with Pons. Also running a regatta that conflicts with Bay Week and Mahurangi.......

[Y88 5241 30]

12 hours ago, Jonquil said:

Seems a theme with Pons. Also running a regatta that conflicts with Bay Week and Mahurangi.......

Few people are bit upset with this, what a way to kill long term regattas and general sailing numbers. Dilutes sailing pretty quick with this sort of action

[Jonquil 545]

Its a big part of why i am selling Deep Purple and moving to a non racing boat. 
 

We have been at every bay week since i purchased but this years entries are a third of previous years. No windward/leeward divisions at all other than sports boats.  It's pretty clear this will be the last regatta in its "old" format. 
 

Trailer yacht nationals in June had 5 entries in A division. i keep an eye on racing numbers and see massive reductions in Auckland fleets. 

We have attended regattas all over the country but it costs thousands of dollars per event and it's fast becoming not worth it.

The south island is the place to be for trailer yacht racing but its a major commitment for us. Our two visits to Aviemore were the best sailing of my life but the 2 events since have been stymied by the weather and we are thankful we didn't go.

its inevitable Deep Purple will end up in the South Island (or Kerikeri). In another lifetime i probably would too.