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From left, RS Feva and single-handed O’Pen Skiff classes sailing off Manly Beach. Students in Gulf Harbour Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing Programme were able to put theory into practice, acting as crew for club members.
Boats are back out on the water, with social events and racing planned at local sailing clubs and fingers crossed for no more lockdowns.
The great thing about boating is that at anything below Covid Level 3 restrictions, sailing and racing can go ahead, with limits on crew numbers and strict protocols for hygiene, social distancing and contact tracing.
Unfortunately events such as prizegivings may be impacted by restrictions but for most sailors the pleasure is in being on the water.
Manly Sailing got back into it with the Aon coaching clinic held at the club on the weekend of September 5, organised by Yachting NZ.
The event took place under Covid-19 Level 2.5 protocols, which commodore Barry Thom says, were definitely in place.
Some locals didn’t agree, and called Police who educated people at the event around the restrictions and were satisfied that effective processes were in place.
The club had its official season opening mid-September and Barry says as a sport “focused on fresh air, wind and water,” they plan to make the best of the season, providing opportunities for sailors and sticking to the protocols for whatever levels are current at the time.
Last weekend, there was a Spring Youth Regatta for all youth classes including RS Feva, O’Pen Bics and lasers. The event was also the 29er North Island championships and had around 50 boats entered, mainly from the North Island.
This month the club hosts the National Youth Trials run by Yachting NZ.
Meanwhile, Gulf Harbour Yacht Club members are enthusiastically preparing their boats for a busy summer.
New opportunities this season include an invitation for members to join in with three other Auckland clubs, each running races from their home marinas to Gulf Harbour. Sailors enjoy racing against fresh opposition, particularly boats of similar design that ‘you just have to beat’.
The competitive Wednesday twilight racing series starts on October 21, with Ladies twilight racing on alternating weeks. The Coastal Classic race from Auckland to Russell, Bay of Islands sets off on October 23 with more adventurous boaties participating in a race that always has challenges – usually too much or too little wind.
Summer cruising kicks off on Labour Weekend and generally produces a fleet of up to 30 boats racing to a designated location, for a barbecue.
Short-handed sailors are catered for with Two Handed races co-organised with Weiti Boating Club – courses are set to meet prevailing weather conditions and usually last all day.
Club members are also looking forward to the ‘Club day out’ in November, when as many members as possible climb aboard a boat for a day on the water and picnic lunch. This is eagerly anticipated by those who no longer own a boat and is a way of giving back to many older members who built the Club up into what it is today.
