Happy New Year and what a great start to the year for our Wakatere sailors. For those of you who haven't been following the results we have some listed for you -
 
Splash Worlds held at Takapuna:  Chris Steele 1st - World Champion
James Roberts 4th in the Silver Fleet
Starling Nationals held at Lyttelton: Logan Dunning Beck 1st
Chris Steele - 3rd
P Class Nationals held at Lyttelton:  Ellie Copeland 10th
Zephyr Nationals held at Tauranga - Grant Beck 2nd
Laser Nationals held at Timaru:
Full Rig Masters - Pete Thomas 5th
Radial Rig Masters - Mike Keating 6th
Sunburst National held at Wellington:
Mike and William Long 4th
Dean and Chris Coleman 8th
Senior Sail Auckland
420 Logan Dunning Beck and James Turner 1st
420 Alex Munro and Luke Stevenson 2nd
470's Finn Drummond and Francisco Lardies 3rd
Laser Radial - Chris Steele 2nd
RSX Board - Kate Ellingham 1st Women
OK Dinghy Nationals held at Wellington
Russell Page-Wood 5th, Ben Morrison 6th
OK Worlds are still underway with results on our website http://www.wakatere.org.nz/
 
Last weekend was massive with 78 Optimists competing in the inaugural Wakatere Waitangi Classic which was combined with the afternoons Masonic Cup race around Rough Rock to the amusement/amazement of the visiting clubs. This weekend coming is the Junior Sail Auckland which we have our junior sailors competing.
Good luck to all you sailors competing in regattas and preparing for regattas.
Dean Coleman (NS)
Commodore
 
SAT FEB 13 – SUN FEB 14th JUNIOR SAIL AUCKLAND:
This regatta is at Kohi and open to Optimist, P Class, Starling, Splash, 420, 29er, Laser 4.7 and Bic Techno classes. The Optimist class will be divided into Open and Green fleet classes. NOR attached. Registration is only online through ClubHub on the Kohi website. http://www.kyc.org.nz/  Briefing at 1000 hours. Entry fee $55 single handed, $75 two handed.
 
SUNDAY OPTI COACHING:
The Sunday coaching programme is now full and not accepting any more sailors. The new intake will be in October when the next season starts. There will be coaching this Sunday as normal for those not attending the regatta at Kohi.
 
CLUB PICNIC SUNDAY 21st FEBRUARY:
A SUNDAY FOR ALL CLUB MEMBERS and THEIR FAMILIES - This year we are having a Wakatere/Devonport Yacht Club Challenge Picnic on keelboats. There won’t be any dinghy sailing but an opportunity for everyone to try something a bit different. So keep those optis packed away.
9.30 a.m. All members to assemble at Wakatere to be allocated to a keel boat.
10.00 a.m. Skippers briefing
10.45 a.m. Approx start time for Challenge Race to McKenzie Bay (behind Rangitoto Lighthouse)
 
On arrival at McKenzie Bay there will be games and races. Please bring you own picnic lunch to have there. Devonport and Wakatere Boating Clubs will then return to Wakatere to partake of a club barbecue and prize giving. Those members with keel boats and launches who would be willing to ferry/race members across to McKenzie Bay please contact me. I am also looking for some members to skipper RIBS to act as a taxi service between the keel boats and the Wakatere Club. We will also be taking the ribs across to McKenzie Bay.
IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO BOTH DEVONPORT AND WAKATERE ORGANISERS IF WE COULD GET AN IDEA OF NUMBERS BY THE THURSDAY BEFORE THE PICNIC.
Please send an email with number of adults and children attending AND if you have a keelboat available - email to dean.coleman@xtra.co.nz Look forward to seeing you all there.
 
LOCKERS.....ARE YOU STILL SAILING?
Lockers are not given for storage purposes only. The demand for locker space is currently very high. If your situation has changed and you are not sailing actively in the club, please contact Simone Nicholas on mone@clear.net.nz and arrange for your boat to be vacated. This would be greatly appreciated by current active sailors.
 
OPTI LOCKERS:
If you are sharing an opti locker please take full responsibility for any boat you move out to reach your own. There have been a few incidents of boats left out on the lawn without the owner sailing.  On a busy day please be aware of which boats you have moved. Parents please supervise this.
BOAT NAME & NUMBER: For anyone new to the club please forward your sailing details to Paul Turner who maintains the club race results. This prior information helps log the results more efficiently as there are sometimes questionable signatures on sign-on sheets. Email Paul anne.paulturner@gmail.com  FULL NAME / CLASS OF BOAT / SAIL NUMBER. If you sail an opti please indicate ‘Open’ or ‘Green’ fleet. If you have bought a new boat during the season let Paul know so your results are carried on through the season.

CHELTENHAM CHALLENGE SWIM - SAT MARCH 27th:   
Wakatere is offering assistance to the annual Cheltenham Beach Swim by providing 2 patrol boats. However both boats need an experienced Wakatere driver. They also require a crew member for each but this could be organised by the surf life saving group also involved. The event begins at 7.30 am – all over by 8.30 AND you get a free bacon buttie breakfast!!! The swim starts at Narrowneck and finishes at Balmain Reserve, Cheltenham. Contact Ian Macdonald (ph 446 6426) directly if you can help. Wakatere club access (a key holder) preferred. Steve Oliver will advise which boats are available so please liaise with him when you have committed. theolivers@orcon.net.nz
 
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