April 2009

There is a lot to report on since the last comprehensive update. The Waiuku Yacht Club's representative Finn team did an amazing job at the Nationals with Roger Hall taking out the Championship, we have wrapped up our Junior Sailing Program for the year, the annual Finn Veterans was held over Easter and we celebrated Kevin McGee becoming a life member.

Finn National Championship

A representative team of Finn sailors from the Waiuku Yacht Club travelled to the Naval Point Yacht Club on Littleton harbour to contest the 2009 Finn National Championships. The WYC Finn fleet had had some very competitive racing this season leading up to the nationals, with a number of sailors putting in a lot of practice time in on the water - some up to 4 days a week. Additionally a lot of work had been done on boats, new paintwork, new masts and new sails are evident throughout the fleet. With such a lead up the club certainly hoped for good things.

The rewards came, Waiuku Yacht Club sailors took first and second places, first and now national champion Roger Hall, second was Alan Dawson.

The conditions varied from racing in 0 to 8 knots of breeze right up to survival conditions of 25 to 30 knots. These conditions provided challenging and spectacular racing. The Race Committee included a triangle in every course which meant high speed blast reaches adding to the fun of a closely fought regatta.

Kevin McGee – Life Member

We celebrated the honouring of Kevin McGee becoming a Life Member of the Waiuku Yacht Club on April 12. A great turn out of both former and current club members to honour Kevin.

Kevin's interest in sailing began when his wife Gill returned home from a ladies sailing day and said “we must buy an optimist”. Which they did soon after and Sally started learning to sail. After a season, Kevin felt sitting on the front deck of the club with the Mum's was no longer a place for him, the word went out and a Zephyr was found.

In the early days Kevin was a keen helper of fund raising efforts working on things like chopping and selling firewood, auction and raffles.

Kevin was Junior Training Officer 1993 – 1996 . As well as training he also spent 3 years obtaining sponsorship for the purchase and maintenance of more optimists.

In 1993 Kevin was elected to the committee as Vice Commodore and from 1994 to 1996 was Commodore. Kevin has been the Club Handicapper since 1997.

Kevin is one of most regular sailors very rarely missing a race day. A man always with a friendly smile and a genuine interest in club members and visitors to the club.

Finn Veterans Regatta

The 23^rd annual Finn Veterans regatta, sponsored by CRC, Village Bar and Kitchen and Dave and Maureen's was held over Easter in a range of conditions ranging from extremely light to a nice moderate “hiking” breeze.

Racing was very close as has been the case all season with the Finn fleet this season. The current inform sailors dominated with Roger Hall taking out the regatta from David Hoogenboom and Alan Dawson.

Alan has been very active this season keeping Finn Sailors up to date with happenings and sailing in the class with a regular email the “Finn Flash”. Check it out on the Web Site when updated, hopefully within a week.

Junior Sailing Wrap Up

Our Learn to Sail program finally wrapped up on Sunday March 29 with a fun filled day which included a lolly scramble, opti style – lollies in balloons released onto the water. An opti relay and games of opti tiggy. We are very much looking forward to seeing you back next season.

Special thanks must go to Justin Hurst who has just completed his 9^th season as Junior Training Officer.

Prize Giving

Prize Giving this year will be Friday May 15. As with the last few years it will be a Pot Luck Dinner at 6.30pm followed by Prize Giving.

Certificates for Learn to Sail silors will also be presented at this evening.

Please get your trophies from last season back to the club this weekend.

Web Site

I am sorry this has not been updated for such a long time. I am facing some technical challenges with it at the moment but hope to have learnt enough over the next week or so to get it updated with latest pictures and news.

Match Racing this weekend

Our final race weekend will be the second part of our Match Racing series. This is great fun and highly recommended. Come on out for this last weekend of our Summer Season.

Winter Sailing

With the Summer Season finishing this weekend we are very close to the start of Winter Sailing. See the program below;