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May 2006 NewsThe following news items were placed on Crew.org.nz in May 2006 and have been archived without links or photos.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: Appeal in Kendall case: 29 Jun - News website Stuff.co.nz reports today that the American windsurfer suing New Zealand boardsailing champion Bruce Kendall over a collision at sea is seeking to overturn a decision on how much she can claim. Full story in The Dominion Post > Posted 29/06/2006 Stunning work - Team NZ wins Round Robin: 29 Jun - Two good wins on the water today gave Emirates Team New Zealand an outright win in the round robin of the Louis Vuitton series. NZL 84 despatched Alinghi in Flight 10 with a margin of 1min 12sec and later in the afternoon beat BMW Oracle by 1min 14sec. With 11 straight wins, NZL 84 was clear at the top of the leaderboard, a point clear of Luna Rossa and two points clear of both Alinghi and BMW Oracle. How it happened > Posted 29/06/2006 Three days: 28 June - Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. That's how long you've got to take advantage of discounted entry fees to the North Sails Race Clinics for earlybird customers. Sign up online now > Posted 28/06/2006 Valencia victory in sight?: 28 June - We'll find out soon. After nine races, Team NZ is one point ahead at the top of the leaderboard but the team faces both BMW Oracle and Alinghi tonight (NZ time) in Valencia. Crew.org.nz's coverage > Posted 28/06/2006 Zana takes on Ireland: 27 Jun - Our top supermaxis are back on the circuit. Zana (formerly Konica Minolta) has recently arrived in Britain and kicks off her European campaign in Ireland this weekend. Zana will be helmed by Gavin Brady with a predominantly kiwi team aboard. Following the Irish race she will then move to her base in Valencia and will continue to campaign in the Mediterranean targeting the Maxi worlds and Middle Sea races. The time to beat is 76hours 23mins and 57secs for the 704nm BMW Around Ireland Race which is due to start July 1st, in Dublin, Ireland. Photo (c) Rolex Regatta News Posted 27/06/2006 Get it?: Are you on our email newsletter list? If you don't receive 'eat-sleep-sail' headlines direct to your inbox each fortnight, drop us a line (email zoe@due-north.co.nz) and we'll add your name to the list. It's great if you don't have time to visit the website every day and you want to keep on top of what's happening. Oh yeah, unlike some others that we know of, we don't buy, sell or steal email addresses, never have and never will. Posted 27/06/2006 Why the girls loved Lifa Tech: 26 June - Last month Helly Hansen gave four Lifa Tech tops to the tutors at Crew.org.nz's Sailing 101 for Women Race Clinic. The girls went out sailing in the tops afterwards and reported that they were great - tight fitting, they are an ideal first layer for wearing under foulies to keep you warm and dry, and don't bunch up even under a snug fitting wetsuit. The fabric doesn't retain smells or pill, so they'll look great for a long time to come. Thanks Helly Hansen - Rowena, Sally G, Sheryl and Zoe. Posted 26/06/2006 Dan Slater wins Kiel regatta: 26 June - Last night Dan Slater became the second ever Kiwi to win Kiel regatta in an Olympic class. Full account > Posted 23/06/2006 Team NZ in Valencia - UPDATED: 25 June - Emirates Team NZ is sharing the top of the leaderboard with Alinghi after beating Luna Rossa today in Valencia. Regatta report > Posted 23/06/2006 Maxi disappointment: 22 Jun - After almost 100 hours on the water Maximus has been the 4th boat to cross the St. David’s Lighthouse finish line behind eventual race winner Bella Mente , Alchemy and Captivity. It was a staggering late come back from Maximus who dropped as low as 48th position in the mid stages of the event when they were virtually becalmed with little or no wind to the east while those in the fleet that headed west were enjoying much more favourable conditions. Continued on www.supermaxi.co.nz Posted 19/06/2006 Last but definitely not least: 19 Jun - ABN Amro 1 may have made winning an artform over the last 200+ days of the Volvo Ocean Race but they glided into the final finishing line of the Volvo Ocean Race very much in last place, but still winners overall on the points table, following a remarkable, in fact near impeccable, around the world sprint. ABN Amro 2, which had been leading Leg 9 until just a few miles short of the finish, were thwarted by the Pirates after they sailed into a windless hole. Overall, ABN 1 thrashed the Pirates by 23 points. ABN Amro One, skippered by Kiwi Mike Sanderson, also boasted a sail wardrobe by Crew.org.nz sponsor North Sails NZ. Whatever it was that made the difference for them, they deserve their win. This sport may not have the national pride associated with it that it once did, but we can be very proud of the contribution that NZ has made to this race. Posted 19/06/2006 Stirring the pot: 19 June - Last week we reported briefly on the fact that a solo round the world yacht race on a France-NZ-France route is coming in 2009. Reliable word is that Wellington are putting on a strong bid to host the event. If this race is being handed to us on a plate, what are Auckland going to front up with? Jump into the forum > Posted 19/06/2006 Kiwis overseas: 16 Jun - Kiwi sailors, including Barbara Kendall, are heading into their last day of racing at the European Champs. How are they doing over there? Posted 16/06/2006 Round the world race to stop in NZ: 16 June - the NZ Herald today reports that New Zealand and France will stage a round-the-world yachting event. The 'Soloceane' race is the brainchild of renowned race organiser Yvan Griboval and comprises a tour of the world in two stages, from France to New Zealand and back again, for 52-feet monotype monohull boats. The event will begin on October 25, 2009, and four ports are competing to host the starting point in France, while either Wellington or Auckland will be chosen from New Zealand, according to the AFP report. New Zealand's vice-consul in France, Bridget Gee told French news agency AFP: "When we were informed of this project, we were very enthusiastic. It will make us a topical part of the world." Posted 16/06/2006 Free book ...: 15 June - The next five to register and pay for North Sails Race Clinics will receive a free copy of one of Bill Gladstone's books on your choice of Trim or Tactics, worth $45. Be quick, they are in demand! Register right now online or call 09 376 5100 > Posted 15/06/2006 Team Inspiration reflect: 13 June - A big Kia Ora to everyone! It’s been a little while since our last letter, as we’ve been full out with training, travel, competitions and exciting happenings. We’ve managed to keep everything current on the website www.teaminspiration.co.nz but we thought it was time for a special note to our very special supporters. We’ve had some serious learning curves in Europe this season. The Holland Regatta was a dissapointment and we watched our world ranking drop to Number 2. Six points behind our good friends from Spain. Both teams are over 100 points ahead of number three, so the World Championships will take on some added meaning for each of us. Download PDF newsletter (800kb) > Posted 13/06/2006 Bermuda bound: 12 June - NZ's most famous supermaxi, Maximus, is due to start the Newport to Bermuda race on 16 June. She's been stretching her legs in New York for the last few weeks and pulled off a win in the Round the Island Race, in very light conditions. The boat's website says that 'the team will be hoping conditions improve as they set their sites on the race record of 53 hours 39 for the Newport - Bermuda race set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket in 2002. If conditions are right the crew are confident that they can cross the St David’s Lighthouse finish line in time for a late lunch on Sunday.' Supermaxi news > Posted 12/06/2006 Murdoch gains #2 world ranking: 12 June - Fast-rising Kiwi sailor Andrew Murdoch, currently competing in Europe, has leapt to second in the world rankings. The talented Kerikeri 23-year-old jumped numerous places in the Olympic Laser class, in tables just released by the world body ISAF. Murdoch, one of the first sailors confirmed in Yachting New Zealand’s Olympic Squad towards the Beijing Olympics, is now putting pressure on top-ranked English veteran Paul Goodison. He is one of the first two athletes inducted into the Pinnacle programme, the Hyundai-backed mentor scheme which prepares young New Zealand sportspeople for world championship contention. Full story > Posted 12/06/2006 From antifouling bottoms to...: Hi all - Some of you might know that I'm expecting a baby very shortly and I'm getting heaps of questions about 'what's going to happen to Crew.org.nz?!?' The answer is that Crew.org.nz, my number one baby, will keep going just like it does now, from the office at Westhaven Marina. There might be a few weeks when my news updates are less regular, and I'll ask if you can bear with me over that time, and use the forums to keep up with gossip, but everything else will tick on as normal. Cheers, Zoe Read full letter > Posted 12/06/2006 Why it's hip to be square: 9 Jun - Recently Crew.org.nz profiled two very successful local boats, Formula One, and Jive Talkin’, whose owners have both opted for a square-topped mainsail, and sought the expertise of the Norths loft to design and make them one. This feature has been used in multihull design for many years, and was adopted by the last America’s Cup, but is only just emerging as a real force in our local club racing scene. What is the benefit – and is it worth considering an upgrade? Josh Tucker from North Sails explains > Posted 9/06/2006 IRC uptake: 9 June - From MARTIN HANNON - So far 17 New Zealand boats have been measured for IRC: eight in Wellington, one in Tauranga and seven in Auckland. Another eight are in the process of being measured in Wellington bringing the IRC fleet to 17 down there. Though this second batch of measuring began on Saturday the 27th May, the completion has been delayed due to bad weather. Full story > Posted 9/06/2006 Message in a bottle: 8 June - Received today from BBYC - To whom it may concern - I am a preschool teacher at Farnborough State School, Yeppoon Australia, 4703. One of my preschoolers has brought in a message in a bottle from the yacht Stella launched on the 1.11.05, enroute from Vanuatu to Auckland. If you have any information about this vessel could you please let me know. Regards, Lisa Donoghue >>>> Posted 8/06/2006 Big: 8 June - I received this by 'anonymous PXT' a few minutes ago. What is it - can you help? > Posted 8/06/2006 Centreboard classic: 6 June - The Europe dinghy association down in the South Island are producing a pretty cool email newsletter that anybody who is into centerboard sailing will enjoy reading. If you'd like to subscribe email Tom Arthur (tomarthur@orcon.net.nz) or click here to download the latest copy (.PDF) > Posted 6/06/2006 From an internet cafe in Hungary...: 6 June - Force 470's Andrew Brown writes: "I am here getting ready for the 470 European Champs where I will be again coaching. The coaching is going well, and it is great to stay in the 470 game while I sort through all the other matters to do with an Olympic campaign for FORCE 470. While here I have really got back into my physical conditioning, running a lot as well as spending time on my muscle balancing at the gym (this will make my Physio happy). This is in preparation for a few regattas I have coming up where I am sailing. These include the 420 Worlds held in New Zealand in January 2007, as well as a few lead up regattas that are in December, as well as the Italian 470 championships on Lake Garda in July 2006. I am back in New Zealand on the 20th of June and will update you further on FORCE 470's news at the beginning of July." Posted 6/06/2006 SSANZ presents...: 6 June - A new look website packed with photos, news and all sorts of great stuff related to short handed racing in NZ. The Short Handed Sailing Association of New Zealand launched its new website this week to co-incide with a Call for Entries for the SIMRAD Triple Barrier Series, NZ's biggest short handed race series attracting well over 100 boats per race for distances of between 30 and 100+ nm. If you are into new challenges or just love short handed racing this is the race event of winter 06. www.ssanz.co.nz Posted 6/06/2006 Vision takes major win: 6 June - A young Kiwi team called Vision Yachting won the Lugano Match Racing, Grade 2 in Switzerland this week: finals day report from Simon Minoprio - "We sailed the shifts extremely well, as hard as it was, we took a two nil victory to go straight through to the finals. In the other match however, an extremely big upset - Antoine Morvan beating Russell Coutts 2 - 1. With Russell now in the petit final, we had a little bit of breathing room. It was close racing in the best of five final and we won two each so it was game on, with one more race to go. An even start, we were in a controlling position and managed to get the upper hand. We extended the whole way round the three lap course to take the win and Lugano Match Race champions for 2006. Thank you to everyone who has responded to our email updates, a huge thanks to Ross Munroe and Greg Flynn from Line 7 NZ, and The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for their ongoing support towards Vision Yachting. Posted 6/06/2006 ORC and IRC explained: 1 June - Do the initials ORC and IRC leave you feeling like you're confronting School Cert Algebra all over again? Designer Brett Bakewell White is going to explain the ins and outs of IRC and ORC at the RNZYS clubrooms on Tuesday 20 June at 6pm, and all are welcome. He'll talk about the differences between 'rating' and 'handicap', why to go ORC or IRC (or neither or both), how to get a rating, how to improve a rating, and plenty more besides. Please register your interest with the Sailing Office, email sroberts@rnzys.org.nz or phone 09 360 6809. Posted 1/06/2006 Happy birthday Lou: 31 May - It's Lou's birthday today. Lou is the Westhaven boatie's favourite security guard, and very well known and much loved by local yachties whether it's for following up if their car is left unlocked, securing wayward inflatables in bad weather, or just for being Lou. Lou is back at work after a break due to bad health and will be having some surgery in July. It's good to see her looking well. Posted 31/05/2006 What's this?: 31 May - A glimpse at the new-look shiny 'Carbon', from designer Kevin Dibley, ready for export, and flying the Crew.org.nz at its launch planned for this Monday. We'll be filling you in with more info next week. Posted 31/05/2006 Going it alone: 31 May - From Lindsay Wright - Offshore sailors from around New Zealand and across the Tasman are lining up to compete in next years Solo Tasman Yacht Race. The race will start from New Plymouth in Easter 2007, organizing committee chairman, Wayne Sattler said, and race over 1240 nautical miles to Mooloolaba, in Queensland. Entries from notable sailing personalities have already been received. Full story > Posted 31/05/2006 Medals well earned: 29 May - FROM YACHTING NZ - New Zealand has claimed two medals and a further two top seven places at the ISAF Grade 1 Holland Regatta. Hamish Pepper took silver in the Star class and Jo Aleh won bronze in the Laser Radial. The Olympic class action in Medemblik, Netherlands concluded overnight on Sunday, New Zealand time with a final medal race for the top ten qualifiers in each class. Pepper and Aleh made it to the podium while Andrew Murdoch placed 5th in the Laser and Dan Slater finished 7th in the Finn. More > Posted 29/05/2006 Fiji guide: 29 May - FROM FENDALL HALLIBURTON - The departure of the Bula Cruising Division and the Corinthian Division on Wednesday 31 May before the Premiere division on Saturday June 3 has opened speculation as to who will arrive first at the finish line in the Momi passage off the Navula light. At the Calcutta Auction for a first to arrive sweepstake held at the Bula Nite on Saturday the competitors picked the large cruising boats as being most likely to arrive first in Fiji. The favorites were > Posted 29/05/2006 Farewell Jack Smith: 29 May - Jack Smith, manager of the Victoria Cruising Club and the driving force behind the club's long life, died this morning. Jack crewed on Fidelis with Jim Davern, Buccaneer with Sir Tom Clark, Corinthian with Russ Hooper, and he worked with the Hooper family for years. Friends say that Jack did a lot for a lot of people and touched a lot of lives. He quietly worked in the background on a lot of good things that have happened. He was a strong advocate to return Westhaven to public ownership and used the vote of Victoria Cruising Club, where he cooked, ran the bar, and did the maintenance, to help bring that about. (Thank you to Peter Montgomery for providing this information.) Posted 29/05/2006 NZL1 in Holland: 26 May - FROM DAN SLATER IN HOLLAND: "Today’s racing conditions was held in 8-14 knots and cold again. I used a light air NZ North'S sail on a mast that I don’t normally use. Race 1, I had a good start but I made a few mistakes up the first beat but got back into the race up near the top mark. Some good downwind sailing bought me up to 4th at the bottom mark, which was where I finished the race. In race 2 the wind increased at the start leaving me well out of range with a light air sail on and a stiff mast. I rounded the first mark in 8th and down the first run I caught up to 6th and then passed one more on final run to the finish. I finished the day with a 4th and 5th that leaves me sixth overall out of 71 boats. Dan is sponsored by North Sails NZ. Posted 27/05/2006 Auckland to Fiji countdown: 25 May - UPDATED AUCKLAND TO FIJI RACE COVERAGE: Hot Shot's hot shot crew - Tasman Rivalry: two Australian entrants battle it out - Why the small boat fleet is the future of ocean racing - Fleet and divisional synopsis - Where Honest Ron comes from - Interview with Graham Dalton about his new Open 50. Crew.org.nz's Fiji page > Posted 25/05/2006 Swapped: 25 May - NORTH SAILS RACE CLINIC UPDATE: We had a number of requests overnight for the Trim and Tactics days to be swapped. In both Auckland and Wellington, the Trim seminar will now be held on the Saturday, with Tactics on the Sunday. This allows those racing on Saturday (i.e. in the SIMRAD and Bucks winter racing) to attend the Tactics seminar. Full details and registration > Posted 25/05/2006 Special offer to Crew.org.nz readers!: Registration is now open for the North Sails Race Clinics NZ tour, and the first five people to sign up through Crew.org.nz will receive a free North U tactics or trim book by Bill Gladstone (worth $45), as well as a 10% earlybird discount! North Sails Race Clinics are intensive sessions on tactics, trim and boat handling, dedicated to making you a better sailor. Register > Posted 24/05/2006 International news: Movistar Abandoned, AC News: 25 May - Following ongoing keel problems, Movistar was abandoned, the crew rescued by ABN Amro 2 in the Volvo Ocean Race over the weekend. Click our new 'International Sailing News' page for more info, where the crew of Brasil 1 also recount a near tragic episode aboard their own boat, in the leg in which an ABN2 crewmember was killed, but which ABN Amro 1 once again won. Overnight, Team NZ moved up to third place overall. Crew's AC report > (photo (c) Chris Cameron) Posted 20/05/2006 A Southern Man: 19 May - No it's not a Speights ad, but it is the name of Graham Dalton's new Open 50. Built for the Velux 5 Oceans race, which is billed as 'the oldest, most established, continuously run, single-handed round the world yacht race', it will make its debut at the RAYC's Auckland to Fiji race later this month. It is the first Open 50 class yacht built in New Zealand and features a canting keel and nine-metre retractable centreboard amongst other high-tech gear to aid solo ocean racing. Ocean Photography snapped the boat on the Waitemata and we caught up with Graham this morning > Posted 19/05/2006 Tragedy aboard ABN Amro 2: 19 May - from VOR media office, Portsmouth: Earlier this morning, Hans Horrevoets (NED) was washed overboard from the deck of ABN AMRO TWO as they raced across the North Atlantic on their way to Portsmouth, UK, in leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race. The young crew, who have sailed this boat so well, are devastated. The boat was sailing downwind in 25 – 30 knots of wind under mainsail, fractional spinnaker and staysail. Sebastien Josse, skipper of ABN AMRO TWO, was at the helm, Hans was trimming the spinnaker sheet, Nick Bice, Andrew Lewis and Lucas Brun were also on deck. A wave washed back down the deck and when the water cleared Hans was no longer on deck. Photo from VOR website. Forum > Posted 19/05/2006 Gypsy Moth en route to NZ: 19 May - Gipsy Moth IV, the craft that carried Sir Francis Chichester on the first solo one-stop round-the-world voyage was grounded on a coral reef north of Tahiti last month, and the damaged vessel is currently on a ship bound for New Zealand, due to arrive on 22 May. The cost of rescue and repairs to the historic vessel is estimated at over 300,000 pounds, and the boat will be located at Emirates Team NZ base while the work is completed. We'll keep you updated about progress. Posted 19/05/2006 Prods unite: 17 May - In this land where our racing yachts are not so much one-design but one-off, boats of similar types are doing a good job recently of getting themselves organised for some good close racing. A group of sports-style prod boats between around 26 and 30 feet have pledged to race together in the Squadron C division, as have a similar group in B division, which have also convinced the Club to offer windward-leewards throughout the season. The goal is for racing without stringent rules that is as close as possible to class racing, albeit in different types of boats. Good on them. Posted 17/05/2006 Third: 17 May - Emirates Team NZ have walked away from the Act 10 of the Louis Vuitton Cup with a third placing. The consolation is that we beat Alinghi. BMW Oracle took top honours, with Luna Rossa second. The top four teams each finished on nine points, with the results determined by a count back. ETNZ suffered two blown kites - and subsequent losses - but encouraging boat speed in the brand new NZL84. Pic (c) Chris Cameron. View our full coverage here > Posted 17/05/2006 5.9 Style: 16 May - SIMON MANNING reports on the weekend's Elliott 5.9 Auckland Champs - After a brief delay waiting for the wind to fill on Saturday racing got underway in a chilly westerly breeze, which moved around a lot, affected by passing rain showers. This meant every heat required mid-race course adjustments as PRO Fred Price coped admirably in maintaining a fair course. From race one Zoot Allures and Slam Dunk were clearly the boats to beat and dominated the top positions while the remainder of the fleet mixed up the placings. Full story > Posted 16/05/2006 Top two!: 16 May - Since August 2005, Crew.org.nz has been ranked #2 by visits in the 'Sports - Yachting and Boating' category of the Hitwise Top 10 Awards for New Zealand. We just got our Award for the quarter ended March 06 in the mail today. #1 is Trade A Boat's buy and sell website, boatpoint.co.nz. I hope you are coming to help us celebrate this Thursday evening at Swashbucklers, Westhaven. Cheers, Zoe & team. Posted 16/05/2006 UPDATED: NZ shares top of leaderboard: 15 May - From WARREN DOUGLAS - After seven races NZL 84 shares the top of the leaderboard with Alinghi, Oracle and Luna Rossa. Oracle has one race in hand. Today Emirates Team New Zealand lined up against the Italian +39 syndicate. It was no easy race as ITA 59 won the start and determinedly defended a slim lead right up the first beat. Grant Dalton said: “Seeing ITA 59’s stern as we rounded that first mark was not a pretty sight. Ian Piercy and his boys gave us a really hard time. He wasn’t listening to all the experts around Port America’s Cup who said it should have been an easy race. Photo (c) Chris Cameron. Full story > Posted 14/05/2006 Sailing 101: 12 May - Around 40 sailorettes were at the 'Sailing 101 for Women' Race Clinic last night, at the Ponsonby Cruising Club. Thanks to tutors Sally Garrett, Sheryl Lanigan, Mel Rosaak, and Rowena Cremer, they covered off a range of topics starting from the first basics of sailing dynamics through to trimming for different conditions. Sailing 101 is designed for women in their first two years of the sport and a repeat will be held prior to the second race of the PCC's Winter Women's Series, on the morning of Saturday 27 May. Gulfwind Sailing Academy is also offering six free crew spots for the race on Share Delight (normally $95pp). To apply, visit our Race Clinics page > Posted 12/05/2006 Two up: 12 May - From WARREN DOUGLAS - Emirates Team New Zealand opened its account for the 2006 America’s Cup season with two comfortable wins. Dean Barker and crew left the dock in a determined frame of mind, looking for two wins and taking nothing for granted. The Louis Vuitton regattas last year showed that there would be no easy matches but the day turned out to be a gentle re-introduction to America’s Cup match racing. NZL 84 headed GER 72 by a margin of 2min 32 sec and in the second race the margin over RSA 83 was 1min 44sec. Photo by Chris Cameron. Full story > Posted 12/05/2006 Blow: 10 May - Yes, there is a boat in there somewhere! It's Pretty Boy Floyd popping its gennaker after a shap shackle goes through the cloth near the luff, in the last race of the RPNYC season a few weeks ago. The breeze was around 30 knots... in the lulls. The next Port Nich racing is the winter series, starting June 11. Thanks to BRETT LINTON for sending this through. Click the pic to see in full size. Posted 10/05/2006 Did it. Again.: 10 May - Mike Sanderson and ABN Amro 1 pulled off yet another victory in the Volvo Ocean Race, this time in the 380nm leg from Baltimore to New York. Despite misgivings that the short course might disadvantage his boat if the conditions weren't to its liking, he was 23 miles ahead of the second boat. With a 23 point series lead over the Pirates, you could say that ABN1's lead is 'comfortable'. Posted 10/05/2006 In Force: 8 May - The New Zealanders put on a good show at a local 470 regatta in Holland last weekend; Andrew Brown and his crew placed second while Geoff Woolley and Mark Overington took third, in the 30-strong fleet. Andrew Brown reports: "On the first day we had three races in 8 to 15 knots with flat water and it was quite shifty. We had an okay day gaining a 2, 2, 3 to be 2nd overall at the half way stage. On the second day of racing we had early start but we still had great breeze the same direction as the first day, but a little stronger starting off at 15 knots and rising to 20 knots by the end of racing. Our day was okay today, but nothing special, we made quite a few mistakes but still came through the day with a 3, 3, 4 to place us 2nd overall in the 29 boat fleet, behind the local Coster brothers who dominated the series." Posted 8/05/2006 Countdown to Fiji: 8 May - RAYC are in big time countdown mode for the 2006 Fiji race. They have 21 confirmed entries, split evenly between the Wednesday and the Saturday start, including a late entry from Lion NZ, which will be doing the ocean sprint with 18 crew onboard. Favourites include Graham Dalton's Open 50, Pussy Galore, and Lion. If you are travelling to Fiji for the race (by boat or air) Crew.org.nz would love to receive your photos or accounts of the race. View the Club's latest race newsletter (Fiji) > Posted 8/05/2006 Dismasted!: 8 May - From JOSH TUCKER - "An offer to sail from Melbourne to Uruguay on the Open 60 ‘Hugo Boss’ was made to me and I left New Zealand bound for Melbourne on the Sunday after the Bay of Islands Sailing Week. My five week trip away had only just been confirmed, so as you can imagine it all happened in a hell of a hurry and at the same time my girlfriend Sara was running the Auckland Match Racing Cup - Grade 1 at the RNZYS, so was full on herself! Not ideal circumstances to be going away for such a long time into the depths of the southern ocean and to sail around the world’s most notorious landmark ‘Cape Horn’." Full story > Posted 8/05/2006 Competitors by day, best mates by night: 8 May - JANE PARES reports on last weekend's production boat get-together at Kawau: "So much for the light winds that were forecast! Once the fleet passed through the Tiri Channel, we recorded 23 knots in building seas, but at least the sun shone for us. The bigger boats in the 3rd Bavaria Regatta loved the heavy conditions, coming into their element they raced up to Kawau on the afternoon of Friday 28th. Line honours went to Keith Munro’s Time Lord who arrived in 3 hours, hotly pursued 2 minutes later by Bill Byford’s B46 Pebble Rebel. Full story and photos > Posted 8/05/2006 Just quickly: 8 May - There was plenty of talk about NZ sailors overseas in the papers this weekend, so rather than re-inventing the wheel, we'll let you go straight to the source: The NZ Herald featured a humorous interview with VOR skipper Mike Sanderson, the Northland trio of Sharon Ferris, Raynor Smeal and Ashley Holtum retained their #1 world ranking - Northern Advocate - and Justine Sellars, daughter of YNZ's Rex Sellars, appeared in the Howick & Pakuranga Times for her good work on a sailboard. Meanwhile, the next Act of the Louis Vuitton Cup is only three days away, and leg six of the Volvo Ocean Race is underway. How's that for lazy journalism? Posted 8/05/2006 Close Encounters prepares to leave port: 5 May - Close Encounters, the first boat to appear on Crew.org.nz's new 'Cruisers Log' section, is departing New Zealand this weekend for Raratonga. Close Encounters is owned by four young Danish students, who are taking a year out from study to explore the delights of the Islands. Click in to our 'Crew.org.nz Cruisers Log' page at any time to see how they, and other boats, are getting on. (You will be able to access 'Cruisers Log' at any time by clicking on 'Articles', above.) We're keen to hear from other boats that would like to appear in 'Cruisers Log' - please email Zoe. Posted 5/05/2006 Census: Hey, have you taken our reader survey yet? We're adding some new features so it's great to know exactly what you want. The guys at www.collected.co.nz have produced it for us, so it's fully online and only takes five minutes. Click here > Posted 4/05/2006 Insanity alright: 4 May - American musician Donna Lange has arrived safely in NZ after 168 days at sea alone, aboard a 28-foot sloop called 'Inspired Insanity'. The 17,000 mile journey began in Rhode Island, and only finished when she arrived in Opua on 30 April. She's now in Auckland, and her website says she will be "licking her wounds for several days as she heals and regains strength." Donna will appear on TV1's Close up at 7pm tomorrow night. Posted 4/05/2006 Tsunami alert cancelled: 4 May - While most of us were sleeping, our coastal waters were under tsunami alert today. The NZ Herald reports that a 7.8 scale earthquake struck Tonga, which is over 2,000km northeast of NZ, early this morning. The Tsunami Warning Centre issued a warning for countries in the region at 3.42am, but the warnings were later cancelled. If the quake had resulted in a tsunami, it would have been expected in Fiji around 5.13am, and in Gisborne at 6.20am. Posted 4/05/2006 Powered by Norths: 3 May - "In my opinion a rocket ship, fastest Farr boat upwind, fast downwind and reaching, if they would stick with the fleet a bit more, very dangerous." That's what Bouwe Bekking, Skipper of Movistar, had to say about Brasil 1's superior boatspeed on the VOR website. North Sails NZ is consistently producing fast sails for grand prix boats all around the world, but even on the local scene it is the dominant force in top fleets, with first, second and third places in the recent Y88 Nationals going to boats with North Sails. Even the top Opti's can't help but escape the fact that North's sails do give them an edge. Plus, they're a proud Crew.org.nz sponsor, and they're bringing Bill Gladstone to NZ for our Race Clinic tour later this year. What more could you ask for from a local sailmaker? Visit them, www.northsails.co.nz Posted 3/05/2006 The state of NZ sailing: 3 May - Mark Mulcare has outdone himself this month, with an eight page wrap up of the 2005/2006 sailing season, as seen by RaceTrack. Sure he's included a bunch of new clubs in the ratings, but the numbers sure indicate that more boats are taking part in racing than in previous years, and that some races - like those atLowry Bay and the Quantum Challenge Akl-Tga, are getting bigger and bigger. Woolly Jumper was the boat that performed the highest above its start rating, the Squadron clearly has more races than any other club, and it looks like the Ross 930s are slightly faster than the Young 88s. Lots of the names are familiar but there are some surprises in there too. Oh dear (.pdf) > Posted 3/05/2006 Uncle reports from Valencia: 3 May - I am sure that my journalist uncle won't mind me publishing this extract from an email he sent me yesterday. "I'm sitting behind a huge tinted window in air conditioned splendour overlooking the port rimmed with the hangars of 12 teams, each with a couple of boats tied up at pontoons in front or standing on the hard. Hot and bright outside but big storm on the way tomorrow. Racing starts on the 11th. Construction everywhere. Drills whining. Huge lopsided dredger turning around in the harbour. Teams are very secretive because new boats haven't been shown yet. PR's neurotic. Can't do a thing without formal permissions. Hard to break through this up-tight-ness. Lovely restaurants down the road. Had a super dinner last night. Otherwise you'd hardly know it's Spain. It could be Westhaven transported except it's bigger, but many fewer spectators and almost no spectator boats. Instead it's all seen on big screens using simulations by a NZ company claled TV Eye or something. Very good and clever stuff but it doesn't show the drama. For example if a boat is dismasted or loses its kite you see nothing of it on the screens. Anyway, it's all good fun and I'm getting paid for it (I hope). Home on Friday." More photos by Chris Cameron Posted 3/05/2006 We're having a party!: 1 May - In honour of the fact that summer is over, winter racing is about to begin, and Crew.org.nz turns two soon, we're having a bit of a bash at the main Swashbucklers bar at Westhaven, at 6.30pm on Thursday 18 May. If you came to the last one, you know that our parties are damn good. It's helpful if you can drop me an RSVP but drop-ins are welcome too... we'll see you there. Cheers Zoe, Luke, Rob & team. Posted 1/05/2006 Little boats go nuts: 1 May - This weekend both the Pied Piper and Farr 727 classes raced their national champs. Akarana reports that 19 Piedys took to the water to compete for the 2006 Nationals victory which also bestows the winner with the title of 'World Champ' . Graeme Robbins and his crew in Woodstock looked fast from the start and were always going to be the team to beat. Graeme won comfortably on 13 points, Yosemite Sam (James Gordon) was 2nd on 17 points and Motamouse (Simon White) was third on 19 points. Blueberry was the strongest 727 by far. Results at Akarana, and photos from the weekend at Ocean Photography. Posted 1/05/2006 Heads up, girls: 1 May - Crew.org.nz is holding a 'Sailing 101' Race Clinic for women in their first two years of sailing, next Thursday 11 May at the Ponsonby Cruising Club at Westhaven. A second clinic will be held before the second PCC race of the season. Click here for info > Posted 1/05/2006 Packer in critical condition: 1 May - Chris Packer, former owner of iconic Kiwi racer Starlight Express, narrowly escaped the death penalty when arrested in Bali, Indonesia for suspected arms smuggling, but it may be a heart attack that gets the better of him. Chris suffered a massive heart attack while playing golf on the weekend and is fighting for his life in Freemantle Hospital, Western Australia. Our condolences to his family. Posted 1/05/2006 More 'Kiwi bronze': 1 May - Three Kiwis racing in the Semaine Olympique Francaise yachting regatta in Hyeres, France narrowly missed out on medal placings over the weekend. Yet three of them finished in fourth place, and two others in the top ten. The fourth placegetters were: Andrew Murdoch in the men's laser, Jo Aleh in the Laser Radial and Dan Slater in the Finn. Sharon Ferris & Co finished fifth in the YngLing, and Tom Ashley wound up in sixth place in the RS:X board. There were 26 New Zealanders in the Hyeres competition with four others finishing in the top 20. Posted 1/05/2006 |