Wakatere club monthly newsletter

WBC E-News Oct 2010

OPENING DAY: The Wakatere sailing season commences this Sunday Oct 10th at 12 noon. The formalities will begin with a welcome from commodore Dean Coleman and then a few words from our guest speakers Mike Drummond and David Brooke. Mike is BMW Oracle Racing’s Design Director, a Wakatere family member and was recently inducted into the Americas Cup Hall of Fame. He will talk about the path ahead for our junior sailors from his perspective. David Brooke is speaking on behalf of his father and club president Don Brooke who is overseas. David also has a long history with Wakatere spending his weekends at the club from a very young age. He is now a professional yachtsman racing in big boat campaigns around the world and has an impressive list of achievements. It is a special occasion to welcome these two yachtsmen back to the club to speak. Then the season will be officially declared OPEN with the peal of a bell. This will be followed by a light lunch for our life members and official guests.

The Opening Day HERITAGE RACES which are the first 2 races of the new SEASON POINTS start at 2pm. All classes are welcome. The racing will be conducted from the Heritage Starting Tower so please make sure you get to the briefing. Opening Day Trophies can be yours! *There is no junior coaching on Opening Day but there will be an opti green fleet course in the afternoon racing with an additional briefing immediately after the main briefing.

1.30 Briefing
2.00 Race start
4.30 Barbeque

The afternoon will conclude with a whole club bbq. Meat provided but please bring a generous salad or similar plate to share. The bar will be open (cash only) and we look forward to welcoming all members back to the club. The bbq will proceed regardless of the weather.
The Devonport Classic Fun Run is on earlier the same morning with a start and finish at Fort Takapuna. The course does not cross Wakatere’s path and is only SOUTH of Fort Takapuna. See course map attached if you are travelling within Devonport. There will be no road closure and we have set our time back to accommodate this. Most runners will be in the process of leaving the area as we begin, so don’t be alarmed by event signage.

THANKS: A big thanks to everyone that helped at the working bee, all jobs were completed and the club is in fantastic shape for the new season. The new training room and shower block are operational and even the wooden ramp is ready with a huge thanks to the North Shore City Council. Finally, thanks to Toyota who have been confirmed as the main sponsor for the forthcoming Optimist Nationals at Wakatere. We have a very exciting season ahead.

MEMBERSHIP: This Sunday there will be a registration desk for membership fees and opti coaching payments if you have any accounts to finalise on the day. Please see us after the Opening Day speeches.

CLASS REPS: There have been a few changes to class representatives for the coming season. Full contact details are on the Wakatere website so don’t hesitate to contact them for any related questions www.wakatere.org.nz or just to let them know you are sailing this season.
Optimist - Terry Nicholas, Starling – Mike Simpson, Techno – Anthea Dunning, 420 - James Munro, Laser – Pete Thomas, Sunburst – Mike Long, Frostbite – Geoff Shearman, 3.7 – Chris Hawkins, OK Dinghy – Alistair Deaves.

BOAT NAME & NUMBER: Can ALL sailors please email Paul Turner with your boat details:-

FULL NAME / CLASS OF BOAT / SAIL NUMBER so this can be cross-checked against any club race you sign on for. If you sail an opti please indicate ‘Open’ or ‘Green’ fleet for season points racing. anne.paulturner@gmail.com
DO YOU HAVE AN OPTI FOR SALE? We have some young sailors needing to purchase a boat so they can begin Sunday coaching. If anyone has an optimist to sell please email Terry Nicholas with boat details and price and owner details and he will forward it to the 8 Learn to Sail sailors who finish their course today. Terry@nicholas.co.nz

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Over the Labour weekend there is no general club racing scheduled and Wakatere is hosting the OK Dinghy Rum Bucket Regatta and we need some volunteers to assist with mark laying and patrol boat manning for Sat 23rd & Sun 24th Oct. This is just over 2 weeks away so if you can offer some help, morning or afternoon shifts available, please contact race officer Kevin Whitehead kevinw@solutionm.co.nz

DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB QUIZ NIGHT: You are warmly invited to another exciting fundraising event at DYC in aid of their club renovation project. Prizes, raffles, games and fun! $10 tickets are available from Tasha 445 2131 so either find a team or join a table on the night. 7.15pm Friday 16th Oct.