4 minute read
Cruising Division Report
FROM THE General Manager
The Christmas season is now in full swing here at the club and it is great to see so many members making use of our facilities, whether in the Members’ Bar for lunch, the Dinghy Locker after sailing, or taking advantage of member-rate bookings for private events and corporate functions. We are certainly keeping busy!
It was a delight to host the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Jim and Karin Lott recently – 50 years after they enjoyed their wedding reception here at the club; having them return to the same room to celebrate with family and friends was a very special moment for the team and a pleasure to be part of.
I would personally like to thank both our Kitchen and Front of House teams led by our Executive Chef, Campbell White, and Front of House and Events Leaders, Emily Chambers and Will Clough.
The hours and effort they have been putting in have been exceptional and the effort has not gone unnoticed. We are proud to receive positive feedback about the quality and consistency of our food offering and our improving service levels, and it is great to see the hard work of these teams delivering great results.
I would also like to acknowledge the Sailing Office and the army of volunteers that delivered the Barfoot & Thompson Women’s Match Racing World Championships through trying conditions, to what I think we would all agree was a truly world-class regatta.
We’re also proud and thankful to all of our corporate partners and members who supported the Corporate Regatta, which raised $120,000 through the charity auctions. I was blown away by the generosity of our volunteers, members and partners at these events.
Coming up quickly before the holiday break, we look forward to the Christmas Race – to be sailed on Wednesday 21 December. I encourage as many members as possible to take this opportunity get out on the water with friends, family and work colleagues to enjoy a fun and social race followed by Festive cheer back at the club afterwards.
We are planning well into the New Year and looking forward to a couple months of exciting summer sailing ahead of us.
The New Year’s Day Regatta at the Kawau Boating Club will start the year with a bang, to be quickly followed by the 36 Degrees Brokers Squadron Weekend on February 11/12. I am looking forward to spending some time at our RNZYS ‘home away from home’ and connecting with many members up on Kawau Island.
Reflecting on my first few months here, it has been the highlight and my pleasure to meet and connect with so many of our members and partners, and I look forward to continuing to meet many more this summer. The support from our Flag Officers, General Committee, wider committees, and volunteers has been invaluable as I get to know the finer workings of the club and the different areas of our organisation. Thank you, I appreciate the support.
I look forward to seeing many of you over the holiday season on the water!
Kind Regards Sarah
Barrie Hopkins
In our previous issue of Breeze, the list of members (P44) who received pins to mark more than 60 years of RNZYS membership omitted Barrie Hopkins. As of 8 September, Barrie had, in fact, been a member for an impressive 73.2 years. We apologise for the omission – Editor
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PIC Insurance Brokers Cruising and Motor Yacht Series
Three PIC Insurance Brokers Cruising Rallies have been sailed this season so far, with completely contrasting weather – a reflection of spring conditions on the Waitemata Harbour. • October 29: A 15-25 knot dense northerly with showers and bad visibility made us question the relevance to “cruising”, but doubts were more than compensated by a fresh sail to blow the winter cobwebs away and by meeting up with new and old friends ashore. This was clearly evident with big smiles emanating out of wet weather gear, which won the fashion stakes of the day.
The harbour was busy with the Globe 40 race yachts heading out en route to Tahiti and our own Mastercard Youth Training Programme athletes “sending it” as they overtook the cruising fleet.
After our start, a squall reduced visibility significantly as we approached Bean Rock. Rough water caused by wind against tide in Crusoe Passage was thankfully short-lived and the yachts were soon sailing downwind through the Motuihe Channel to navigate tricky puffs entering Islington Bay for the finish.
We met ashore under the ferry wharf shelter courtesy of Matt Cole who kindly ferried us in his RIB. A quick beach clean while the BBQ was set up resulted in enthusiastic participants receiving a prize from Squadron partner Ecostore. Line: 1st catamaran, Levity – Mike Mackey; 1st monohull, Terminator - John Faire Handicap: 1st Zuben – Garry Locke; 2nd Platine – Peter Lavelle; 3rd Share Delight – Mike Lanigan
