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September 2005 NewsThe following items were placed on Crew.org.nz in September 2005 and have been archived without links or photos. Please use the 'search' function on the homepage of this website to find further info on a particular topic: Condolences to the Georgia crew: 30 Sep - You have to take pity on the crew of Georgia. In the same week that trimmer Lou Jones was found to have serious health issues and placed in intensive care, boat manager Kenny Davern also found he had a medical condition that required treatment. Then mastman Ross Littler fell off his Vespa outside the York Street pub in Parnell and he has spent four days in hospital getting that fixed. At the same time, boat caretaker Tomo Terakawa, while racing in Japan, suffered a nasty gash to her head, for which she was hospitalised, and is currently sporting stitches. Bad luck people. Hope you all feel better soon. Posted 30/09/2005 Jane makes good at Yale: 30 Sep - Our newest export is excelling at College Sailing in the US. Jane Macky, who is the recipient of a sailing scholarship at Yale University, placed second in the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association women's singlehanded championship this weekend. It sounds like she is fitting in very nicely. Well done girl. Read more > Posted 30/09/2005 Day 1: win one, loose one: 30 Sep - It was not a good day on the water for NZL 82 on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Act 8 at Trapani, Sicily. After an untroubled win in the first race of the day against RSA 83, the second race became a nightmare as a massive wind shift on the first run eroded a comfortable lead and gave FRA 60 a good win. The French K-Challenge, always dangerous in previous regattas, is sailing the Team New Zealand boat that successfully defended the America’s Cup in 2000. Photo (c) Chris Cameron. Full story > Posted 30/09/2005 Rigged to Win: Matrix Masts: 29 Sep - For the month of October, Matrix Masts is offering a great deal just for Crew.org.nz readers: save 20% on parts and 10% of servicing when you book a rig check or service. The following article talks about how and why a bit of attention will help to see your rig right through the summer season, and even give you a surprising edge on the race course. Read on > Posted 29/09/2005 Women's nat's are Go!: 27 Sep - Royal Akarana Yacht Club have confirmed a date for the 2006 Women's Keelboat Nationals, booked the MRX fleet, and are now seeking interest from potential skippers and crews. The event will encompass two days of racing, plus a practice day. Thanks to a funding boost, the entry fee has been reduced by 50% this year, from $1,200 to $800. Sponsorship opportunities exist for organisations keen to get involved, and as it's the weekend before women's matchracing champs, it is hoped that overseas teams will also be interested. A notice of race will be issued shortly. Enquiries to Penny at RAYC Posted 28/09/2005 Bronze for Murdoch: 29 Sep - UPDATED: Andrew Murdoch has taken bronze at the Laser World Champs in Brazil. With a win and a seventh place on the final day of racing Murdoch climbed his way up for a podium finish in a fleet containing plenty of sailing stars. Murdoch was the only sailor to beat World and Olympic Champion Robert Scheidt of Brazil in the six race finals, however Scheidt won convincingly. Photo (c) event media. More > Posted 27/09/2005 AGM Outcomes: 27 Sep - For those in the know, the Yachting NZ annual general meeting was held this weekend. On the table were a few issues that affect keelboaters, including putting the proposed $10 increase of the SEM fee to the vote, an option that was accepted, by significant majority. SEM is essentially the levy that you pay to YNZ when you join a club. The increase is one that YNZ believe is well supported and will be used to improve the services it offers. Some Clubs, including the RNZYS, have already built the fee into their membership fee in anticipation of the decision. At the AGM former Olympic Champ Rex Sellars was also appointed as the new president. Posted 27/09/2005 Hello Kitty!: 26 Sep - The new Cookson 50 named Pussy Galore is a classy kitten off the water. On Saturday she will be launched and we'll find out if the same holds true on the harbour when she debuts in the first race of the Squadron summer series. Owner Anatole Mafsen (heaven sent at long last a Kiwi owner for a Cookson 50 I hear you say!) seems pretty chuffed with his new girl. She's the cruising version of the Cookson 50, with a few extra bits and pieces that in the main are designed for comfort: a duck board, an anchoring set up, and a bit of extra headroom to accommodate the tall owner. Photos and comments > Posted 26/09/2005 Club of the Year candidate?: 26 Sep - On Saturday night New Zealand's favourite 'post office box' yacht club, the Short Handed Sailing Association showed why it attracts more and more boats into its ranks each year with a prizegiving of distinction in the RNZYS main hall. Well organised racing, supersize fleets, courses designed to make the punters happy, and the most dazzling selection of prizes in the shape of silver trophies, engraved wooden plaques and SIMRAD VHF radios make this club one of the movers and shakers of 2005. (Oh and aw shucks anybody wanting to see what those plaques and silver trophies look like - there are a few right here in Crew.org.nz's office, not that I'm one to gloat) Photos > Posted 26/09/2005 RaceCam: Royal Port Nic Opening Day: 26 Sep - Wellington photographer Chris Coad has contributed a great bunch of pictures from RPNYC's Opening Day Regatta on 17 September. Check them out here > Posted 26/09/2005 Big racing for li'l boats: 26 Sep - The UpTo26 Club is pleased to announce a Summer Windward Leeward Series aimed at small boats classes such as Trackers, Reactors, Noelex 22s, Farr 727s, Quarter Tonners and one-offs. Racing will be held on the Waitemata harbour in the area East of Bean Rock and the organisers are looking forward to seeing boats from Tamaki River, Okahu Bay, Devonport and elsewhere. The bare details are 3-4 races a day on Sundays: 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 11 Dec, 22 Jan, 26 Feb and 19 Mar. With up to $5000 in prizes who could say no? Find out more: www.upto26club.org.nz or ring 0274 832 473 Posted 26/09/2005 Sharon Ferris fifth at Worlds: 24 Sep - Kiwi Sharon Ferris and her crew placed a sweet fifth at the 2005 Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championships. They secured a first, a second and a third in nine races finished, and were the top ranked non-US team out of 42 entries. The leading team have been virtually untouchable and while Sharon was in the running for a podium placing, she was denied the opportunity when the final day's sailing was cancelled.. One of two Texas teams was from a town thought likely to be hit by Hurricane Rita. Julie Goetschius said her J/22 has been hauled out of the water by friends, but her house has not been boarded up. She sailed on regardless. Brave girl. Posted 24/09/2005 Auckland is BACK: 22 Sep - A new elite Grade 1 matchracing event designed to register an impressive score on the yachting world's Richter scale has been announced for Auckland and has already attracted the attention of America's Cup syndicates and elite matchracers. Hopes are that the Auckland Match Racing Cup 2006 will help to fill the void left by the departure of the America's Cup from our shores, and the loss of the Volvo Ocean Race stopover to the capital. The Cup will be run in conjunction with a massive harbour festival, and a new look Anniversary Regatta. Read our full story > Posted 24/09/2005 There has been some skull cracking at HQ: I regret that technical problems occuring at our website host company have caused Crew.org.nz to be down and for content on the website to be lost, in particular because it's been a time when there has been so much to tell you about. The website is back, the stories are back online, and we'll continue to be the first to let you know what's happening in our great sailing country. Thanks for hanging in there. Cheers Zoe Posted 23/09/2005 Questions about sail trim?: 21 Sep - 45 people attended the fourth Crew.org.nz OKI Race Clinic on Performance Trim last night at the Marine Rescue Centre. Burns Fallow (pictured) preceeded the trim section with an hour long session on sail design, fabrics and technology. Burns, who is a sail designer with North Sails NZ, has run the sail department at Team NZ since 2005. Josh Tucker of North Sails, freshly back from the Trans Atlantic aboard Maximus, and Etchell and Farr 1020 sailor Cameron Thorpe then explored the fundamentals of Race Trim. Anybody with a question related to sail development or trim please email it to zoe@due-north.co.nz and we will organise a professional to respond. Five spaces are left for the Auckland to Russell Clinic on 3 Oct. Comments Posted 21/09/2005 by: | comments () Plans for new boat follow second placing in San Fran:: 21 Sep - Congratulations to the crew of Beecom, who not only drove the boat to a second placing in the IRC Class A division of the Big Boat Series in San Francisco, but who have also convinced the owner to progress with a brand new boat build here in NZ. Beecom, which was built at the former Marten Yachts and launched in 04, is and Japanese owned R/P 72 was skippered by Gavin Brady and backed up by a a team that included five former Squadron Youth Scheme graduates. Kiwis on board were Campbell Field (son of Ross Field), Rodney Keenan, Magnus Doole, Jeremy Smith and David Munday. Well done guys. Photo Daniel Forster/Rolex Posted 21/09/2005 by: | comments () Welcome home Georgia One: 19 Sep - 'Georgia One', the Farr 43 Cruiser Racer built by Jim Farmer in 1995, is now back in New Zealand and back in the hands of its original owner. Georgia One was the top boat in the Kenwood Cup in 96, and was owned by Jim for nearly four years before it was purchased by a New York doctor who has raced it up and down the east coast of the US. While reportedly in good condition, Jim is doing quite a bit of work on the boat including replacing the inline rig with a carbon rig with swept back spreaders, and installing a new keel. The boat, which was second of five Georgia's owned by Jim, will be raced with a predominantly female crew and should be back on the water in time for Christmas cruising. The only sour note is that it has been excluded from racing in the 40 foot class, which has redefined its rule to include boats of between 39 and 41 feet in length. Comments Posted 19/09/2005 by: | comments () 100 years great: 19 Sep - Devonport Yacht Club is celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend with a week long programme of functions, races and a display of memorabilia. Featuring some great divisions, including one for two handed boats, and starting and finishing from Devonport. The Club can trace its history back to the 19th century and has a website, www.dyc.org.nz, set up specifically for the celebrations. Posted 19/09/2005 by: | comments () Ainslie wins Finn Gold Cup: 19 Sep -Team NZ sailor Ben Ainslie has won the Finn Gold Cup in Moscow for the fourth time in a row. To give an idea of Ainslie's weight in the racing world, the sailor who is ISAF World Ranked No 1, Jonas Hogh-Christensen said "Sailing against Ben is like biking against Lance, playing basket against Jordan, driving against Schumacher or playing golf against Tiger." Kiwi Dan Slater finished in sixth place, after winning race 2. The last day of sailing was cancelled due to insufficient wind. Regatta website Posted 19/09/2005 by: | comments () Stormy day: Sep 19 - A number of boats were separated from their moorings and washed up on Auckland's waterfront in the weekend's stormy weather. View photos > Posted 19/09/2005 by: | comments () RaceCam: Triple Reefed: 16 - In comparison with their Cook Strait cousins, Aucklanders have a lot to learn about sailing in heavy weather, but the dozen boats that braved the elements in tonight's Squadron rum race looked like they had a great time in the 30 knot Westerly. We grabbed some pictures on the startline. Camera action > Posted 16/09/2005 by: | comments () Must-do regatta: 16 Sep - Bay of Islands Sailing Week has become one of the country's most exciting and worthwhile regattas. By day the competitors experience stunning sailing in the beautiful Bay of Islands, and at night they boogie. With 100+ entries and based very conveniently at Opua Marina, this is the regatta that you cannot afford to miss if you are serious about campaigning your boat on the race circuit. Crew.org.nz is an official sponsor of the regatta this year and we will be keeping you up to date with what's up, starting from now. Read more > Posted 16/09/2005 by: | comments () Slater slides into fourth: 16 Sep YNZ - Dan Slater has moved up into 4th overnight at the Finn Gold Cup on in Moscow, Russia. After two days of abandoned racing due to lack of wind the 98 sailors taking part were back out on the water and Slater improved his place from 6th to 4th. Slater is the only kiwi representative at the World Championship regatta and has a win and a second place on the board after five races. Posted 16/09/2005 by: | comments () Optimal navigation systems for race boats: 15 Sep - Are you getting the most from your onboard navigation systems? A new company called MarineTech Computers Limited facilitates the use of a laptop or notebook computer in conjunction with GPS plotting, electronic charts and weather info. MarineTech can integrate your current instrument setup, or set you up with everything you need to navigate in race or cruising conditions, from scratch. Andrew is very knowledgeable and a reseller of a remarkable range of top brand hardware and software products including Nick White's Expedition race package. Tel. 021 427 526 or visit www.marinetech.co.nz Posted 15/09/2005 by: | comments () Tonight's the night: 15 Sep - Tonight at 6pm up to 70 Crew.org.nz afficionados will be congregating a Swashbucklers on Westhaven Drive for a toast to the website's first birthday and the arrival of spring racing. Keen to join us but haven't RSVPd? Email zoe@due-north.co.nz or we will see you there. Cheers Zoe Posted 15/09/2005 by: | comments () Decision 05: 14 Sep - Just a week after the country selects its new government, Yachting NZ will be undergoing an election to determine the new President, Chairman and Board of Directors. Nominees for President include Denis Mowbray of Naval Point Club in Christchurch, and Rex Sellars from Howick, Auckland. Full details are revealed at www.yachtingnz.org.nz Posted 14/09/2005 by: | comments () HSBC Coastal Classic Update: 14 Sep - “New Zealand yachting has surged ahead over the last eighteen months, and we expect to see the fruits of that reflected in our line up,” says Brian Carter of the New Zealand Multihull Club. “The most exciting races are the ones that involve a close finish, and the nature of the HSBC Coastal Classic is often that of a drag race, so it can be intense.” Also check out how Crew.org.nz will be involved by scrolling down. READ THE RACE UPDATE > Posted 14/09/2005 by: | comments () Breathtaking: 14 Sep - This fabulous series of photos were emailed to Crew.org.nz today. I am sorry that we don't know who the photographer is. View the set >>> Posted 14/09/2005 by: | comments () Calling Farr 1104 Owners: 13 Sep - All owners of this classic and enduring design are invited to reestablish an Owners Association, envisaged to be an informal grouping, aiming to provide occasional class events, and a means of communicating useful information. In addition there will be a Farr Owners Regatta hosted by the RNZYS on the weekend of 4-5 March, with both spinnaker and non spinnaker divisions. Racers and cruisers welcome. Contact Jonathan Gravit (Revolution) on 027 4754 169, or jgravit@xtra.co.nz Posted 13/09/2005 by: | comments () Crew.org.nz RaceCam: 12 Sep - Thanks to Sara Roberts and Brent Mullins, photos from the SIMRAD 100 are now online. Click here to view > (if you have photos you would like to submit for inclusion please click here >) Posted 12/09/2005 by: | comments () What's next, skip?: 12 Sep - What's next for intrepid coastal sailors seeking to venture beyond home port? The website for the 2005 HSBC Coastal Classic (the 24th edition) is now live at www.coastalclassic.co.nz and for boats originating in the BOP, the Legends Regatta is entering its second year. This fun cruising weekend instigated by Mt Maunganui Yacht Club attracts upwards of 100 boats, originating from five different locations in BOP and Auckland, converging on The Cove at the Mercury Islands. The MMYC is also organising a tour to Valencia, in 2007. Posted 12/09/2005 by: | comments () A bridesmaid again: 12 Sep - Late last week we reported on Andrew Wills' team at the Etchell Worlds. Skippered by Judd Smith, who has come second several times before in the Worlds, they were leading all the way to the bitter end of the regatta but unfortunately faced discarding a high result, and were nudged down to fifth. "We didnt really care about doing anything but giving winning a go as Judd has come 2nd so many times its stupid," says Andrew. Read more > Posted 12/09/2005 by: | comments () Barrier Banter: 11 Sep - The final race in the SIMRAD Barrier Triple series yesterday took place in big easterly conditions. Of 93 starters (out of 136 entries) the first boat of all to cross the line was an SR26 called Rattle n Rum. Results man Dougal Dougal Love says that Silverraider (pictured), Sundreamer and the multi fleet were close behind. First long haul boat home was O'Sinnerman with Andar second. Moody Blue had a blinder not far behind, winning the ORC div significantly. Galeforce won Longhaul Div 2, ten mins ahead of Fun n Games. In Shorthaul, Namu won with Sliver second. Jamuroqui took the 88 division by one minute. Results are now online at www.ssanz.co.nz While we await the final shakedown please read tales of daring do and check out some photos on our forums. Interesting stuff... >>> Posted 11/09/2005 by: | comments () Always a Kiwi: 9 Sep - We are pleased to report that American Judd Smith is leading the 72 boat Etchells Worlds fleet sailing on San Francisco Bay. We are pleased because Auckland sailor Andrew Wills is onboard as his crew. After four races in the seven race series, Smith now leads the series from Hawaiian schoolboy, Sam ‘Shark’ Kahn. Judd has finished second several times but has never won a Worlds. Well done. Photo (c) Chuck Lantz Posted 9/09/2005 Wowser 140: 9 Sep - A record 140 entries have been received by SSANZ for the SIMRAD Barrier 100 race tomorrow which takes boats around Big and Li'l Barrier Islands. A surprise entry is former Sydney-Hobart handicap winner Starlight Express, a 55' foot Davidson design which has been dusted off and taken out of retirement, making her return in a rum race last week. Starlight will be sailed by Rodney Keenan and owner Stewart Thwaites. Good luck to them and to everyone. Posted 9/09/2005 Tracker - 30 years young: 8 Sep - It's 30 years since the very first Tracker was launched. An Alan Wright design, this popular class was huge in the 70s and 80s and is still going strong. To celebrate the Tracker Association is holding a gala dinner to mark the 30th season since the first Tracker was launched. Guest speakers are Alan Wright (designer) and Philip Wilson (builder of the original Tracker). Anyone interested, especially if involved with Trackers over the years, is welcome to attend. Sat 8 Oct, Richmond YC, Westhaven, Contact Heather on (09) 303-3386, www.yachtingnz.org.nz/Tracker Posted 8/09/2005 Two Sail Enduro: 8 Sep - The Short Handed Sailing Assn of NZ has announced an all new, one off race to take place on Waitangi Weekend 2006. The race is designed to test boats over an enduro course of 170, 100 and 70 miles for big, medium and small sized boats. With a Friday night or Saturday morning start, and Lidgard House at Kawau booked for Sunday night, it's everything you could want in a long race. For more info: www.ssanz.co.nz Posted 8/09/2005 August's top racers: 7 Sep - RaceTrack reveals: August was just a little bit lighter for racing than July, a total of 421 boats racing, 93 races recorded with 953 boats finishing. We have 20 new boats, 'Repeat Offender' at 22 being the top new raft and 'Power Play' at 30 being the highest ranked new mono, three new 88's and three new ravens. Read on > Posted 7/09/2005 Shock horror: Maximus drops rig: 7 Sep - Maximus lost its rig overnight in Porto Cervo, Sardinia within throwing distance of the finish line. The maxi's website reports "when approaching mark bravo the mast broke dealing a devastating blow to the hopes of a clean sweep in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Race Committee support boats rendered assistance and the stricken maxi was safely moored back at the marina, while the rig - including sails, boom and vang - were left at sea and will be recovered, although probably in many pieces, as soon as possible." It sounds like the conditions were tough. Photo Carlo Borlenghi/ Rolex Regattanews.com Posted 7/09/2005 Gloat: 6 Sep - The meaning of true happiness and contentment in work is looking at the Waitemata from Crew.org.nz's new office, underneath the Ponsonby Cruising Club, at Westhaven Marina. Tee heeeeeee! Posted 6/09/2005 First of Five?: 6 Sep - Sailing in flat water, 10-14 knots of true wind, Maximus achieved her first line honours victory at the Maxi Worlds today, 4 mins 55 secs ahead of Skandia. However the race committed is under protest for leaving out a leg of the course, and the race will be re-run later in the week. Line honours are all that matters to Maximus which aims to get 5 guns in the 5 race series. "The crew and the boat performed well even though we did have our problems with the gennaker caught on the top batten of the mainsail as we tried to drop it after discovering there was no bottom mark," says Skipper Charles Brown (pictured) Posted 6/09/2005 Bombed?: 5 Sep - TNZ may have been on a downer in the Louis Vuitton Act 7 fleet racing in Malmo but Grant Dalton says that's okay because the team's focus is all on 2007 “We are not channeling resources into short-term gains that will have no effect on the outcome in 2007. Our focus is on the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup. Our strategy for this year was to rebuild the sailing team. The aim was win the starts and the first cross on the beat. We did that in almost every race at Malmo. " Team NZ finished fourth in the final rankings last week. Posted 5/09/2005 Wellington race calendar: 5 Sep - Following feedback from competitors, Royal Port Nic in Wellington have moved their spring harbour series from Saturday to Sunday. The idea is on trial, and the Club will monitor feedback and attendance over the series. In addition to a very full race calendar including the Premier Offshore Championship and a short Offshore series, the Line 7 Regatta in Feb 06 co-incides with the arrival of Volvo Ocean Race Yachts in town. Club Week has also been reintroduced and is a series of fun races from Monday to Saturday, for one week only. Posted 5/09/2005 Radio news: 5 Sep - Coastguard have announced a number of changes to VHF channels that came into action on 1 September. The working frequencies for the Waitemata and inner Hauraki Gulf and Whitianga, and Boat to Boat channels at Kawau, have changed. For full details Posted 5/09/2005 Voting and racing: 2 Sep - Uh-oh. An event of national importance is happening on 17 Sep. But so are the Richmond Spring Regatta and one or two other races. What to do, what to do? Most of the polling booths are open 10-4 on Saturday, or thereabouts. But we'll be out racing at that time won't we? Lucky the Elections NZ website tells you how to organise an advance vote, by person or mail. Also try out our new poll at the bottom of this page. Election website. Posted 3/09/2005 Boat launch: 2 Sep - 'Time Lord' is first new generation Bavaria 50 to arrive in New Zealand, imported by International Marine Brokers. They invited us along to have a look-see and this is what we thought about this very special boat. Read on... Posted 3/09/2005 Go girls go: 2 Sep - the final race in the Ponsonby Cruising Club winter women's series was held today and with an incoming tide, the girls were lucky that the breeze filled in about the same time as they arrived on the start line. Check out some photos of the race and read this article by Cornelia Luethi, to find out how you can get involved as a sailor, coach or boat owner. Photos - Article Posted 3/09/2005 Light conditions in Malmo: 2 Sep - if there is one reoccuring theme in sailing the last fortnight, it's light winds. Even Team NZ can't escape it in Malmo. In the first race of the day TNZ were 3 mins and 41 secs ahead of USA76 at the third mark, finishing eight minutes behind. TNZ was running second in the second race, when the race was abandoned. Dalton said: “We have been sailing so well in these regattas. I can’t fault the crew. Their work today was great. It’s a pity the breeze was so soft and so fickle.”Such is life... Posted 3/09/2005 |