Wanaka Day Out . Social sail
Social sail in Wanaka, an opportunity for those of you from Queenstown to sail somewhere different, with the locals telling you the best spot for the day.
Sat 23rd or Sun 24th Jan. Will let you know nearer the time which looks best.
Marahua holiday opportunity. 17-24 Jan
Windsurfing / Kiteboarding social week – Marahau 17-24 January
(Marahau, at the bottom end of Abel Tasman National Park in Nelson, is a great spot to spend a few days, location works for windsurfing and kites (great for learning), kayaking, walking, swimming… It has bunkroom accommodation for 60+, walk to beach with gear, probably around $10-$12 p/night, big shared kitchen / common room etc. Pictures
and details on web site – so if anyone in your area is going to be up that way during that week they’d be very welcome for what ever time they want. Please register on the site so we can keep a track of numbers or contact Bruce – winzurf@gmail.com
web site http://marahau.winzurf.co.nz/ (Its on the windsurfingnz.org website too)
Windsurfing Thursdays at Frankton. 4.30-8.30
Starting Thursday 14th Jan through til the end of March. Lessons and rentals available or if you have your own gear just turn up for a social sail and a chat to other sailors. Most weeks there’s a BBQ too, though not for the first one tomorrow. Its always weather dependent. So tell your friends and family about it… get them on the water too !
Sue 027 640 8596.
The BIG Queenstown Downwinder !
Put the date in your diary now ! 27/28TH FEB. We already have two major sponsors on board so it should be great.
Photo’s needed/ windsurfingnz.org news
Please make sure you check out the new Windsurfingnz.org website. Its had a huge makeover and now provides a great news resource for the sport. Note here from the WNZ President; “I’m looking for windsurfing photos, sailing shots showing local sites, and especially photos of people learning, having fun etc. so any photo ops over the holidays – send them in along with your stories!
Finally – and please include this in your email out to members if you send it – thanks heaps for all your terrific work.(That’s a note to Sue for work done on reviving the Instruction Side of WNZ). Although I didn’t achieve as much as I had hoped so far I think we’ve done well and a lot of that is thanks to your hard work.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Cheers, Bruce 04 5626011 / 021 02974741. Life’s a reach and then you gybe – NZL6 http://www.windsurfingnz.org
Aviemore Summer Bash Report
INAUGURAL AVIEMORE SUMMER BASH HUGE SUCCESS !
The first Aviemore Challenge Trophy event held at Lake Aviemore, South Island from 1-3 Jan 2010 was dubbed a great event by all those who took part as well as the organisers and their team. In all 19 windsurfers entered, slightly less than expected, but for a first event all were happy. Everyone took home a cool tee shirt as well as a dental pack, there were trophies to keep for each of the main classes, a very special silver plate as the main Challenge Trophy and lots of spot prizes too. The social side of the event which is primarily organised around a lovely traditional camping/sailing spot was helped by sponsorship beer which added that special bonus to ‘after sailing’ stories !
First day of the event ended up with a freesailing session at Lake Benmore as the winds at Aviemore were unfavourable and rather nuclear. Many of us who have sailed there for 10 + years have never seen quite so much white foam on Aviemore(around the country gusts of 100+ were recorded that day).. so it had been a good call to go elsewhere for a play. The second day saw the sailors doing the planned long distance race in a good Southerly(20+), over to the other side and back twice. Approx 12 kms. On Day 3 we were met with less favourable North West winds again, but a vote was taken and we decided to race. Two races were held of a single crossing to the other side. The winds were rather erratic and the planned cross winder turned into an upwinder and then a scary screaming downwind run, but hey, the conditions were the same for everyone. Hilights of the event included having so many first time racers in the silver fleet; relative newcomer to racing Nathan Taylor nearly beating the favourite Gareth Woods in one race on Day 3; and of course the beers and the end of event BBQ and party.
Results;
Challenge Trophy/ Open Mens; 1. Gareth Woods. 2. Paul Vilestra. 3. Nathan Taylor.
Open Womens; 1. Lucy Waters. 2. Sue Bradley. 3. Annie Crombie.
Masters. 1. Simon Hall. 2. John Holgate. 3. Graham Evans.
Silver fleet. 1. Jodi Taylor. 2. Tom Cowan. 3. Louisa Andrews.
Thanks to all the sponsors; Ben Collins/ Bayshore Builders (Tee shirts and trophies); Jim Rodgers/ Rodgers Dental/Colgate (Dental packs); Tony Limburg/ Watercooled Sports (Products for spot prizes); Chris Gavan/ DB Export 33 (lots of lovely beers !); special thanks to Robert Cooper for his help and use of his boat as the main race /rescue boat. Huge congratulations to George Cooper for getting it all together and organising the event….. put it in your diaries for next year ! This is a locals favourite spot for camping and sailing over the holidays and now there’s even more reason to go.
George is keen to hear from anyone who has any ideas or feedback about the event. gibstop@ihug.co.nz.
Photos; Main Group; Chris Gavan (DB sponsor); George Cooper -organiser; Ben Collins (Bayshore Builders/main sponsor); Gareth Woods, winner Mens open and the Challenge plate; Lucy Waters, Womens open; Simon Hall, Masters; Jodi Taylor, Silver fleet.
Other events coming up.
* Kitesurf Canterbury Champs (Christchurch) 23/24 Jan.
* Kitesports Challenge (Christchurch) 6/7 March,
* Windsurf Slalom National Champs. 3-7th Feb. Dunedin.
* Womens Weekend. Windsurfers and Kiters. Lake Clearwater. 20/21 Feb. This is LOTS of fun. If you haven’t been you should give it a go.
* The BIG Queenstown Downwinder. Feb 27/8 (with March 6/7 as reserve weekend). It should be every bit as fun as last year.. BE THERE !
* Kitesurf Yoda events, Christchurch; 21 March; 10 April
For details of these and other events contact. Sue Bradley 027 640 8596.