From the CEO

GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF

MAJOR PARTNERS

SUPPORTERS

MASTERCARD YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMME SPONSORS

RNZYS PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME SPONSORS

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CORPORATE MEMBERS

FROM THE COMMODORE

After the club’s busiest-ever summer, we now find ourselves with a little more time to catch up and plan for the latter part of our 150th year.

Another financial year has now ended and I am very proud to say it was an excellent year operationally and also for our Foundation. This was despite the Covid lockdowns forcing postponements and cancellations, closure of the club for periods and higher costs around the America’s Cup as host and defender.

I sincerely thank all members for your support over the year, and also to the whole staff team who worked so hard to ensure we could all enjoy our great club. So many amongst that group go unnoticed, but without them we could not strive for our vision to be the world’s leading yacht club.

My congratulations to all the 2020/21 Summer Series prize winners who we celebrated at the annual prizegiving with another great sold-out evening. Thanks to the Sailing Office for their hard work and passion in making all these sailing events happen. We also recognised the Race Management volunteers, who, along with our sponsors, make it possible for our sailors to enjoy the racing.

One of my goals has been to grow and enhance club racing, given that’s where sailing starts for almost all of us. We are making progress here with increased winter fleet sizes; a number of new boats; a reinvigorated 40R division; and multihulls sailing with the RNZYS again.

Leading on from this, our International Sailing Fund creates opportunities and assistance for members to travel overseas to international events. Although many have been cancelled this year, we are lucky enough to have an event in Rarotonga that Barry Martin and crew won on the night, after a draw from all the divisional club champions.

Club racing continues to be strong. Aside from the Doyle Sails Winter series, we held the Theland National Keelboat Championships; the Barfoot and Thompson Women’s Keelboat Nationals, and the Harken Schools Regatta all during the month of May. We are also about to open entries for our 150th offshore race – 500 miles to Three Kings and back home.

Our 150th year is also intended to leave a legacy for the club for future generations and a large planting project at Kawau has just begun. This has involved years of planning and it is so satisfying for so many involved to finally see it become a reality. I encourage all members or friends to buy a tree, a plot of trees, or a family plaque with trees as I have just done myself. Whilst we are working at Kawau, we will also be doing some much-needed maintenance and upgrades to our own Lidgard House facility.

By now you will have also all read and heard stories around the next America’s Cup. Indeed, the Cup is all-consuming, especially for the defending club. With the privilege of being Trustee also comes responsibility. We have a very solid America’s Cup committee, which continues to work closely with Team New Zealand and reports through to the Flag Officers and General Committee.

The America’s Cup has always been an event driven by money, and in today’s commercial world this is now more than ever the case. Sponsorship for sports teams and events is also probably tougher than ever, particularly in the current world economy; also many contracts now contain clauses around pandemics.

As a world leading yacht club, we continue to look at the future of our sport and thus what will give the RNZYS the best opportunity to win the Auld Mug again. In partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand, we have won the Cup on four occasions and going for a “threepeat” next time. Success at the highest level in our sport filters down through our club, and in fact through to all other clubs and associations involved in boating nationwide.

Team NZ continues to be in negotiation with the New Zealand government and Auckland City and we are certainly glad to see their interest and benefit in hosting the next event. Whilst we all enjoyed AC36, both Auckland and New Zealand unfortunately never saw the full benefit of hosting such an event. We all hope that we can see the AC75s race again in Auckland, but at the same time understand that it costs a lot of money to run a major event, let alone run a successful team and defence. 2021 just keeps on giving with more to come this year with the release of our limited edition book by Ivor Wilkins. This is a beautifullyproduced coffee-table edition, lavishly illustrated with historic and contemporary images and something all members would be proud to include in their library. Don’t miss out here with every member’s name (as of April 2021) published in the book.

We also have our 150th Gala evening just before the AGM in August. Get your tickets now, dress up for what will be our actual 150th birthday, where there will be something for everyone.

This is also a moment for me to acknowledge one of our Trustees, Peter Hay, who has decided it is time to resign the position due to ill health. Peter was Commodore from 1994 to 1996 and a Life Member and Trustee.

He has given so much to this club over so many years. I know the many Flag Officers and members before me will certainly appreciate his efforts and wish to thank him for his great and long service. We also wish him, Jan and his family all the very best in his retirement.

On a final note, as we move towards the shortest day and mid-winter, if you would like to help your club and perhaps wish to volunteer on a committee, please do let myself or the Flag Officers know. Whilst we are a very large club; we are also a very diverse business. However, we are also still reliant on volunteers, so if you’d like to give something back or have a particular skill you think may be helpful, please do make contact.

Aaron Young, Commodore

Thinking of selling your boat?

As a result of a big sales year, we continually require new listings. Our sales team has a great record of success and is standing by to provide professional and attentive service in marketing your vessel.