March 2006 News

The following news items were placed on Crew.org.nz in June 2005 and have been archived without links or photos. Please use the 'search' function on the homepage of this website to see if we have any further info on a particular topic:



The Ellen files:
31 Mar - Ever wonder what solo yachtswoman Ellen McArthur is up to these days? Having reached the pinnacle of solo ocean racing by setting a world record for her circumnavigation, she is now sailing B&Q, with three crew, on the Asian Record Circuit, setting a new record from Japan to South Korea despite gale force conditions and rudder damage. Without stopping, the boat is headed for Northern China, with a target time of 2 days and 5 hours. In her newsletter Ellen writes, "It has been a testing but interesting leg – sailing down the south-east coast of Japan just 3 days into this record, we tangled a fishing line which did some pretty severe damage to our starboard rudder that had to be replaced – luckily we carry a spare. " Ellen's website >

Posted 31/03/2006


Woman attempts Indian Ocean windsurf:
30 Mar - A French woman is planning to sail 3,400 solo miles, from Western Australia to Mauritius, on a specially designed windboat called Mahi Mahi, meaning dolphin fish in Tahitian. Raphaella le Gouvello's 7.8m craft operates like a windsurfer and has two cabins. The aquaculture veterinarian has successfully windsurfed the boat across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, but she believes this crossing will more difficult. Her biggest concern is being separated from the boat. She plans to depart on 5 April. Photo (c) Odyssee du Vent. Raphaela's website >

Posted 30/03/2006


Fiji race attracts strong fleet:
29 Mar - "We have some great entries to date – its looking like a quality fleet," says the Royal Akarana Yacht Club of its Auckland to Fiji 2006 race fleet due to depart later this year. "Entered or intending to do so are two Elliot Super Sport 50 canting keel designs, the Cookson 50 Pussy Galore, the Open 50 Andar, Graham Dalton's Elliot Open 50 Drina, and the 40ft Elliot Bullrush. In the cruising division is Kaitorete, a 12m Richard McBridge sloop, Trance a 50ft Ganley design and Quintessence a 42 ft Bruce Clarke. Skiddy Too is returning, entered in the single handed division. Download race newsletter (PDF) >

Posted 29/03/2006


Major regatta for Lowry Bay:
29 Mar - Lowry Bay Yacht Club is hosting Wellington's biggest regatta this weekend, including two national championships: The Flying Dutchman class, and radio-controlled yachts, will mingle with keelers and cruising yachts from around New Zealand, Etchells and Youth crews. 60 boats in total will take part. The regatta was previewed in today's Dominion Post > Other National Championships taking place this weekend include the Young 88 nationals, and the Women's Keelboat Nationals.

Posted 29/03/2006


Sydney orientated:
28 Mar - The Sydney-Goldcoast race starts in three days and Team Compass Point, skippered by Phil Chisolm, are in readiness in Sydney Harbour. Camped out at the CYCA's very opulent marina in Rushcutter Bay in a parking space next to supermaxi Skandia, Phil has already removed 200kg of surplus gear from the Sydney 38 he has chartered for his Hobart campaign, and put in an offer to purchase the boat outright next January. The team will be sailing together for the first time this afternoon. Team Compass Point profile >

Posted 28/03/2006


Gair takes Etchell title:
28 Mar - Two days of intense racing in the 2006 Etchell Nationals saw Alistair Gair taking the top title, with Barry Thom and Grant Turnbull in second and third respectively. Both days offered between 10 and 15 knots of breeze but contestants said it was a regatta where figuring out the best side of the course to be on was imperative. Organiser John Sinclair of Gulf Harbour Yacht Club says that while some of the big names like Dennis Conner, John Bertram and Dean Barker weren't in the line up this year, racing was of very high quality and it was an enjoyable regatta. The event was sponsored by Waiwera Infinity. Results >

Posted 28/03/2006


Love rum?:
27 Mar - Later this week we are launching a new Trade Directory, to help our readers get onto all the great boat builders, riggers, marine electricians, chandlers, upholsterers, sailing schools, charter operators... the list goes on. Anyway we've discovered there are loads of small companies out there that we don't know about - but you might. The person who can give us the most names and phone numbers for inclusion in the directory will get home from work one day soon and find a 1L bottle of Mount Gay on their doorstep. Mmmm.... rum... >

Posted 27/03/2006


Volvo update - ABN 1 nails max points:
27 Mar - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – ABN AMRO ONE sailed a faultless race out on Guanabara Bay to win the fourth in-port race of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 in front of a fleet of 1100 spectator boats. Skipper Mike Sanderson and his crew took an early lead in the race and crossed the finish line just under two and half hours later to beat second placed movistar by a little over two minutes. During the race all five of the other boats held second place at some stage and the points were extremely hard fought. Across all legs Sanderson and his crew hold a comfortable first place with ABN Amro 2 in second. The teams now have a week to prepare for the leg re-start which sees the boat leaving Rio on Sunday 2 April for the 5000 nautical mile journey to Baltimore.

Posted 27/03/2006


Clean sweep for Bobby's Girl:
25 Mar - Thanks to Cyclone Wati, entrants in the Bucklands Beach Motuihe Regatta only got two out of three days of racing this year, but what they did get was 'champagne'. Friday began in squally 25 knot conditions, easing back to 15, and Saturday offered 10-15 and sunshine to the 50-strong fleet, including two Wellington entries specifically in town for the regatta. Bobby's Girl dominated the 40 foot fleet winning ORC, PHRF and general handicap, with local entry Whatever (Mumm 36) taking out the Over 10m division. Iceman (from Wellington) led the Under 10's by one point from Junkyard Dog. Two Townsen 32s matchraced each other in the cruising division, led by Pott Black. Sharing the course was a multihull fleet, topped by Timberwolf. Full results >

Posted 25/03/2006


A super story anyway:
24 Mar - Rumour has it that in the early hours of the morning, the chef of a certain visiting superyacht, in town for a refit, was doing donuts and burnouts in the crew Mustang after a night on the turps, in the Viaduct area. He spun out, lost control and crashed through the side of a local rigging yard, only stopping just short of the mast that being built for his employer. Of course the truth is much more boring, but it did involve a chef, a Mustang, a superyacht and proximity to a sparmaker, and we reckon this version doing the rounds is much more entertaining.

Posted 24/03/2006


Rough water in court case:
23 Mar - The Dominion Post reports today that progress through the NZ legal system may not be all that easy for the American windsurfer suing Bruce Kendall and Yachting NZ following a collision with Bruce Kendall in Greece in 2002. Kimberley Birkenfeld, who is representing herself, has three months to lodge $50,000 with the court as a condition of her claim proceeding. The money is a contribution towards the costs of Bruce and Yachting NZ, whom she is suing for $23m and $500,000 respectively. Link to Stuff.co.nz >

Posted 23/03/2006


IRC incentivised in NZ:
22 Mar - The NZL Yachting Trust is supporting the introduction of IRC into New Zealand with an incentive offer for boat owners: owners can receive a subsidy of up to $300 against the cost of an IRC certificate, which is $25 per metre LOA, or $300 for a 12m boat. The Trust is, essentially, supporting IRC as it believes that the rating system will better align the NZ fleet with offshore racing fleets in other parts of the world, and is a positive step away from an 'arbitrary performance based' system. More >

Posted 22/03/2006


Etchells Champs this weekend:
22 Mar - Wayne Avery, Roger Crabtree, Grant Simmonds, Adam Minoprio, Peter Delaney, Mike Bassett, Mark Kennedy, Scott Kennedy, Michelle Gilfoyle, Alistair Gare, Neil Forrester, Cameron Thorpe, Jon Andrews, Grant Turnbull, Richard Lott, Simon Minoprio, Max Meyers, Andrew Wills, John Brown, Barry Thom and Lindsay Kennedy will take part in the NZ National Etchell Championships this weekend, a qualifying event for the Worlds to be held in Perth later this year, run by Gulf Harbour Yacht Club. As a form guide, Alistair Gair, Simon Minoprio and Rob Bassett were the top skippers at last week's Auckland Champs.

Posted 22/03/2006


Pahi wins Carson Challenge:
21 Mar - From Alistair Cory-Wright - Mark Taylor and his crew on Pahi regained the Racing Division Trophy of the Carson Challenge multisport yacht race on Auckland Harbour over the weekend. Since last winning in 2002, Pahi has featured near the top of the placings, but it took until this year to take back the winner's crown. Light winds on both days saw some of the yachts having to row to find wind, and this may have disadvantaged defending champion Step by Step which despite strong runs up Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands finished 5th overall.

Posted 21/03/2006


Green light for women's nationals:
20 Mar - It's a women's perogative to change her mind and this philosophy extends to our sailing events too. While the exact fate of the 2006 Women's Keelboat Nationals was unknown until today, the Royal Akarana Yacht Club have pulled one out of the bag and made the event happen for the first time in three years. Special dispensation has been granted by Yachting NZ to allow the event to qualify as a nationals despite only having seven crews. Skippers are Anna Barrington, Mel Rossaak, Karleen Dixon, Jan Dawson, Fiona Macky, Sally Garrett and Sarah Kiff.

Posted 20/03/2006


From Crew Quarters:
17 Mar - It's a while since I updated you on progress on the homefront. You've probably noticed one or two new sponsors have appeared, including Helly Hansen (their shoes are currently on sale at Sailor's Corner by the way), and an addition today of the Elliott 5.9 fleet who are going to be wearing eat-sleep-sail stickers proudly. Now that you're all back from holiday, the website continues to grow. We have more than twice as many readers as we did a year ago, and judging by the huge number of pre-registrations for our North Sails Race Clinics this winter, we are going to have no problem selling tickets. A Clinic on Rules is scheduled for April 26 too. Thank you for everything and here's to another year. From Zoe & the crew.

Posted 17/03/2006


Little guys get ready:
16 Mar - The National Optimist Champs are going to take Torbay by storm this easter when around 250-300 boats, their skippers, parents and tow vehicles zoom in on Browns Bay in Auckland for five days of racing. 240 Open fleet sailors will contend the sought after title over 15 races, weather permitting. The event is also the selection trial to choose the New Zealand Team for the World Championship event to be held in Uruguay in December and often as not, future Olympic, ocean racing and America's Cup stars emerge from this fleet.

Posted 16/03/2006


Honking final:
16 Mar - A building southerly made for exciting racing in the final of the RNZYS Wednesday night series yesterday evening. Click the photo for some more great shots from Ocean Photography. >

Posted 16/03/2006


Flagged:
14 Mar - Hey look whose banner is going to be flying from the forestay of 'Team Compass Point' at the Sydney to Gold Coast in a couple of weeks. Thanks heaps to Phil for organising this.

Posted 14/03/2006


On again...:
13 Mar - Rod Davis parted company with Yachting NZ in February due to differences of opinion over the way certain things were done. After five weeks of negotiation he has now been reinstated as Olympic Coaching Director, with the help of Leslie Egnot who will be Operations Manager for the NZ Olympic sailing team. What has changed? We don't really know yet, but they are optimistic about the future. “I always knew that we had the right pieces for our Olympic campaign, they just were not on the right squares,” says YNZ Chief, Des Brennan.

Posted 13/03/2006


Squadron girls scoop third place:
13 Mar - The Royal NZ Yacht Squadron team, skippered by Jess Smythe, claimed a sound third place in the Harken International Women's Matchracing Regatta in Sydney this week. After some testing conditions, including a 25 knot southerly on Day 2 and crew injuries on Days 1 and 2, Sydney turned on its best for the petite finals and finals with a picture perfect day of sea breezes which built to 18 knots and plenty of warm autumn sunshine. Jess sailed with Aimee Famuaro, Sara Roberts and Maan de Fluiter. Photo (c) Luca Villata




Posted 13/03/2006


Calling all superyacht owners:
10 Mar - Big players in NZ's marine industry are out to prove that if the superyachts won't come to us, then we've got no problem going where they are. Following two very successful Millennium Cups in NZ, held in conjunction with the America's Cup, organisers of the New Zealand Millennium Cup announced today that the next event would be held in Spain in June 2007, as part of Superyacht Cup Week. Boats of 30m or more need only apply and the intention is to put the focus back on our superyacht industry, as the NZ dollar comes back into fashion. The race has a $1.4m budget and with sponsorship of $150,000 from Alloy Yachts and Robinson Marine Interiors, and smaller contributions from Marten Spars, Southern Spars, and High Modulus, the event is 60% of the way towards its fundraising target.


Posted 10/03/2006


Jet setter:
8 Mar - You are a local Kiwi sailor and you really want to join an offshore team - but you don't know who to ask. What do you do? You charter a boat and create your own Sydney-Hobart campaign. Phil Chisolm is a Bucklands Beach personality and he is embarking on his second year of offshore racing. Last year he took a Townsen 36 in the Sydney-Hobart. This year he has upgraded to a Sydney 38, auctioned off vacant crew spots on ebay, and leaves for the prestigious Sydney to Goldcoast race in a couple of weeks. Phil's story >

Posted 8/03/2006


Race Clinics go national:
7 Mar - We're very happy to be able to tell you that North Sails are helping out with Crew.org.nz's biggest project yet: taking our series of Race Clinics on a national tour, with an international guest speaker.
In July-August 2006 American sailing teacher and author Bill Gladstone will conduct a six-city seminar tour of New Zealand. Richard Bicknell, Sales Director at North Sails, believes that while boat owners invest thousands of dollars in improving their equipment and putting bells and whistles on their boat, there is no replacement for knowledge, and knowledge comes cheaply by comparison. Click here to pre-register your place >

Posted 7/03/2006


Hammerhead Mayday:
2 Mar - This was received today from a loyal Crew contributor concerned about happenings in the Tropics: “The ‘Hammerhead’ area (pictured) at the entrance to Gulf Harbour is at risk from development. This pleasant eight acre site is used by the general public for picnics, fishing, access to the launch ramp, parking for cars & trailers, parking for ferry passengers commuters, overnight campervans, sightsee-ers, walkers etc. Your help is needed to protect it from further ineptitude by Rodney District Council." To find out how you can help please click here >

Posted 2/03/2006


Kendall sued over Greece incident:
1 Mar - The NZ Herald reports that things are moving on in the lawsuit between Olympian Bruce Kendall and the American boardsailor with which he was involved in an on the water accident in August 2002. The accident left Kimberly Birkenfield in a wheelchair, and both Yachting NZ and Bruce with a $15million lawsuit hanging over their heads. Birkenfield is defending herself in the high profile case. NZ Herald story >

Posted 1/03/2006