Boating NZ April 2021

That’s the sentiment – I sensed – that spilled from this euphoric nation as ETNZ and Te Rehutai swept to a 7-3 victory over the ever-gracious Luna Rossa on March 17, retaining the Auld Mug in commanding fashion. For me – and I suspect for others – the euphoria was a multidimensional reaction. First and foremost, a celebration of a magnificent achievement by a remarkable team. And as it has so often proved, a small, lightweight team able to slug it out against formidable technological opponents. But for many, ETNZ’s performance was also a ‘release’ – a kind of ‘up-yours’ statement in a grim, pandemic-affected world. Call it serendipity, good karma, astrological harmony – whatever – it was extraordinarily fortuitous that the 36th America’s Cup took place in a relatively…

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The Zephyr championship is New Zealand’s longest-running adult dinghy sailing national event. The full fibreglass version of the Des Townson designed 3.35m (11ft) Zephyr is designed to have the same weight and sailing characteristics as the three-skinned wooden original. The fibreglass version is built by Silverdale’s MacKay Boats (manufacturer of successful Olympic racing yachts). Manly Sailing Club commodore Barry Thom says the racing promises to be exciting with several national and world champions, Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup ‘retired sailors’ expected on the start line – all battling it out with very capable long-time top Zephyr sailors. The racing starts on Friday April 9 with nine races over four days. The event is supported by Salthouse Next Generation Boats, Zephyr Wines, XPL Composites, Conway Sails and Covers, C-TECH and…

An intimate dawn blessing at Waiheke’s Kennedy Point in March marked the start of on-site construction for New Zealand’s first island destination marina. Kaumātua Harley Wade from Ngāti Pāoa conducted the blessing. He was joined by a group of representatives from Ngāti Pāoa, Kennedy Point Marina and Heron Construction. “Kennedy Point Marina will be unique among New Zealand marinas,” says Haydn Solomon (Ngāti Pāoa Kaiārahi) “because all of its structures, other than the access wharf, will be floating. Located in a naturally sheltered, deep bay, no initial dredging or ongoing maintenance dredging will be required. “In addition, there will be no reclamation at this site. But best of all, unlike other New Zealand marinas, Kennedy Point Marina will leave the foreshore untouched, making it a large, sheltered area for public…

All Kiwi school children will be able to learn more about sailing through a new schools programme that focuses on the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) associated with harnessing the power of the wind. The Yachting New Zealand-designed programme – Kōkōkaha – Powered by the Wind – was launched in term one 2021, and is aimed at students in years 5-10 but can easily be adapted for older and younger children. Mostly classroom-based, it’s delivered by teachers, but schools also have an opportunity to go sailing at their local club or waterway so they can put their knowledge about the wind and sailing technology into practice. Sailing is the first sport to bring this type of online and practical component into the classroom. The programme has been done in…

Nick Egnot-Johnson and his KNOTS Racing crew of Niall Malone, Alastair Gifford and Ollie Gilmour survived a tricky sudden-death final to win the 2021 Harken Youth International Match Racing Cup. Going back to the Round Robin stage, the top seeding came down to a battle between the eventual finalists, with Nick Egnot-Johnson and Jordan Stevenson racing off in the final match. As is always the case with these two the race was a tight one, but it was Egnot-Johnson who claimed a narrow victory. Both finished with an eight-one record, but Egnot-Johnson snatched the top spot on a countback with the vital, final race win. This is Egnot-Johnson’s second Harken Youth International Match Racing Cup title, and it will also be his last, with the now notso-young skipper ageing out…