From the helm Some exciting news this edition that both Australia & New Caledonia have opened their borders to sailors. We are now going to include these destinations as optional add-ons to our Pacific Rally. We are now eagerly awaiting news of the NZ Maritime border as we've got some exciting plans afoot to go with that announcement. Watch this space... I am really looking forward to once again welcoming international yachties to our shores! I hope you've been managing to avoid catching
I've also had the pleasure of chasing around the
COVID over the last few weeks. There is certainly a
countryside acting as shore crew, port captain and
bit of it about. The good news though is that things
social media person for the Royal Port Nicholson
are becoming easier to move around as we have
Yacht Club Central Triangle Yacht Race. We had a
seen with the Australian and New Caledonian
whistle stop tour of Wellington, Akaroa & Napier
borders reopening for sailors. Fingers crossed the
before finishing the race today back in Wellington
powers that be do the same with New Zealand
after the boats had a hiding off the Wairarapa
sooner rather than later...
Coast over the weekend... heaps of fun and well done to the eight boats that participated!
Our Pacific Rally plans are coming together incredibly well. We've got some awesome new
It is awesome to see that the SailGP event has
sponsors on board this month including Orakei
been rescheduled to March 2023 This time next
Marine, Bay of Islands Marina, Bato Flags, Rocket
year in Whakaraupo Lyttelton Harbour we will be
Cruising Guides, Whangarei Marina, Denerau
watching this regatta! My plan is to re-jig the
Marina, Copra Shed Marina, Sealogs, Octacle,
South Island Rally this summer to go the other way
Multihull Solutions, Global Marine, Helly Hansen,
around and end up in Lyttelton for this awesome
House of Travel, Hunting & Fishing and more!
event! Drop me a line if you are keen and I'll keep
Thanks to all our sponsors, so much for all the
you in the loop when I've got all the details nailed
amazing discounts, benefits and support you are
down.
giving the rally participants, it is very much appreciated and makes joining the rally extremely
Speaking of the South Island Rally, many of the
good value for money!
boats are rounding Farewell Spit as we speak and are completing their circumnavigation of the South
The rally guides are about to head off to the
Island. It must be a relief to be back in familiar
printer, the charts are ordered, the goody boxes
territory in Tasman Bay where their adventures
are being packed full of exciting treats, we've got
started back in early January three months ago.
webinars lined up including PredictWind, communications, passage planning,
We've had a fantastic group of yachties on the rally
documentation on top of the weekly workshops
who I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting along
helping everyone get through the Cat 1 Process. It
the way. I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of
is all go around here!
their gorgeous photos on Facebook and in the newsletter. It has been a bit quiet while they've
If you are looking for crew for the passage or any
been out of coverage in Fiordland, but I've had the
passage for that matter, we've got a CrewSeeker
odd text to let me know that one boat managed to
page on our website for members, which is packed
catch COVID in Milford Sound of all places, there
full of keen people. From experienced delivery
has been a few close encounters with rocks,
skippers, to sailors keen to get some offshore
getting to know the friendly sandflies on an
experience & miles under their belts, to keen
intimate basis, filling water tanks via waterfall, blue
newbies eager to learn.
cod, crayfish and lots of adventures.
