RNZYS Events

from BREEZE Magazine December - January 2022

Marine Scene

Celebrating a new RNZYS summer menu

Summertime, and the eating is easy in the Squadron’s Quarterdeck. Executive Chef Jean Brito’s new menu is full of seasonal tempters. The two-course set menu is $52, plus add-ons.

Jean looks forward to seeing you all back enjoying his dishes. His favourites from the menu …

Entrees Loaded Guacamole Halloumi & hibiscus flower fried tacos, Chef Jean’s guacamole & charcoal oil. Veal Tartare Corn crisp, chipotle mayonnaise, avocado purée, spiced pepitas, cured egg yolk, red radish, sesame seeds. Mains Moroccan Chicken Brochettes Lebanese labneh, zucchini & charred cucumber salad, grilled lemon. Grilled Coastal Lamb Chops Roasted baby kumara, chimichurri, smoky eggplant purée.

Pictured top right: F&B staff member Caleb Loi watches as Jean Brito adds the finishing touches to the Moroccan chicken brochettes.

Pictures by Debra Douglas Veal Tartare Grilled Coastal Lamb Moroccan Chicken

Big interest in the Bridge to Bean Race

After a long year with plenty of cancellations and postponements of sailing events, including the cancellation of most dinghy racing until 2022, the 2021 Barfoot & Thompson Bridge to Bean Race on December 19 was attracting huge interest, and with only 150 vessels able to take part, the available spaces were snapped up quickly!

The race’s popularity was due to its accessibility to most skill levels, providing an opportunity for young sailors to test themselves against world-class competition. One of the most renowned sailors planning to race was Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper, 2006 ISAF World Sailor of the Year and current Doyle Sails CEO, Mike Sanderson.

He was excited by the diversity of the fleet for the event. “If you are in your Opti and 18 foot skiff World Champions, Honda Marine, come past at 20 knots, that’s pretty cool.”

As most professional sailors have a dinghy sailing background, Mike saw the opportunity to take part in more fun races as enabling him and other experienced sailors, to hone their basic dinghy sailing skills. “It’s a lot of fun, and there’s nothing better than getting out there and taking part with one of your kids.

“I used to do more than 100 days a year away pro sailing, so these past couple of years have been quite different with the ability to travel so limited. However, the time at home has had some advantages. The biggest one for me personally has been the time I have been able to spend sailing with my 12-year-old son, Merrick.”

Mike and Merrick were set to do the Barfoot & Thompson Bridge to Bean aboard their Cherub. Mike has been instrumental in a renewed interest in the class. “The choice of a Cherub was 100% driven on what would be a cool little high performance boat for Merrick and I to just go sailing in. I wanted it to be fast, single trapeze, light, not expensive and for it to look cool!

“There is nothing better than doing 20 knots down the harbour in a Cherub with your child wiring off the back corner, absolutely loving it.”

Mike also takes his turn strapped into the trapeze, with Merrick helming as they enjoy summer evenings and weekends ripping around the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

After getting his hands on a first-generation Cherub through TradeMe, Mike realised this class could work for many more families. Even though it had been extinct in NZ for more than 20 years, the Cherub still had a huge following and was dear to many people’s hearts.

Since purchasing their Cherub in April 2020 the Cherub revival has seen the fleet grow to nearly 30 boats in New Zealand.

Mike cannot recommend them highly enough. “Cherubs are really nicely mannered, super-fast, fun, light and with enough ability to tinker around for those of us that do enjoy that side of sailing, and as long as Mum or Dad are a proficient enough dinghy sailor then you can get amongst it.”