Race Officer Jan Airey’s trigger finger is itching to get back on the starting gun

From the Sailing Office

The big guns ... trimaran Romanza and Steinlager 2 vie for supremacy in the first Havana Club Rum Race post-lockdown. – Debbie Whiting Photo

It has been a tough few months in lockdown, but now we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

In the Sailing Office, we have been pretty busy while working reduced hours, rescheduling events and getting ready for what is shaping up to be a busy summer ahead. We also got into a few online virtual events, running webinars covering rules and tactics, cruising guides, learn to sail courses, learn to eSail courses, Etchells tuning courses and lots of eSailing regattas.

I personally have really enjoyed the eSailing. It has taken me a while to get used to the game (Virtual Regatta Inshore) and it can be very frustrating at times, (lots of penalties!). But there is definitely a big crossover to real world sailing and can be a great training tool when you can’t get out on the water.

With all the webinars we ran over the lockdown period, one of the highlights were the two cruising discussions with Jon and Barbara Tucker. The first was focused on the Bay of Islands and the second on the Marlborough Sounds. Some great content sharing a wealth of knowledge. We are now planning an RNZYS flotilla to the Bay of Island over the Xmas and New Year period. All the webinars are saved online on the RNZYS YouTube channel, which can be accessed via the RNZYS website.

I must make a special mention also to Peter Linford our Learn to Sail manager at the RNZYS. He really took on the ‘virtual’ content, running dual cameras and building props for his Learn to Sail course (which had over 150 attendees!). He also ran the cruising and learn to esail courses. His adapting to going ‘virtual’ was used as an example in a University of Auckland lecture.

The last part of the 2021 year is going to rush by with racing every day up to December 19, including the Barfoot & Thompson Bridge to Bean Rock dinghy race on the 19th which will be the third attempt after Covid and then bad weather cancelled the first two events.

It is disappointing that the Bay of Islands Sailing Week had to be cancelled this season. I know we always had a good showing of RNZYS boats at this event, which is the highlight of the season for many sailors. We will be running an event over this time with Royal Akarana Yacht Club to fill the gap this year and will do all we can to help the BOI race week to be back again in 2023. Hope to see you all out on the water soon

Laurie Jury Sailing Director