Category Archives: event

Big Downwinder 2011 happened!

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Well we postponed and postponed but FINALLY the Big Downwinder happened last Sat… it was well worth the wait ! The 2011 Downwinder was a huge success again. Below is the officlal press release which gives a bit of a summary, and attached are some good photos … and then at the end a scan of some of the media coverage.. we got 2 front page stories !!! Yeeeeeh ! Extra to those in the scan were a story in the Mirror, and extremely good coverage on some international web sites.

Sorry if you missed it because of the postponements.. we’ll be aiming for a much earlier date next year, end Jan/beg Feb, so hopefully we’ll get it right first time !

To all those volunteers, organisers, boat owners and drivers who helped and took part.. the hugest of thanks. And especially big thanks to all our sponsors who make the event so special. Please look at the sponsors list and remember them.. they’re supporting us so I hope you’ll support them !

Any feedback please let us know sooner rather than later, experience tells you’ll forget ! If anyone wants a full list of the results we do have them.

All the best,

Sue and Becs.

2011 Supporters

Watercooled Sports
G Force paragliding
Rodgers Dental Studio
Small Planet Sports
Glenorchy Hotel
Queenstown Fibreglass
Glenorchy Rd Honey
Brazz Bar and Restaurant
Glenorchy Cafe
DB Export
Kiwi Discovery

Press release.

Kiters and windsurfers from around the south island were delighted by the blue skies and fresh breezes on Sat to finally take part in this years long distance event from Glenorchy to Pigeon Island on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.

Organisers had bad luck this year with the event having a number of postponements before the conditions came right. However all were agreed it was worth the wait.

25 kiters and windsurfers took part. The winds were quite strong and the wavey conditions quite challenging so some participants didn’t quite make it all the way. They were helped to shore to pre arranged pick up points by the support craft.

” It was an awesome day enjoyed by all ” says event co-ordinator Sue Bradley ” Even those who didn’t make it to the finish still had big smiles. To be lined up at the start with that many colourful sails and co-sailors in the spectacular setting of Glenorchy is quite a thrilling experience.”

On the race side the kiters took out the main honours again with Thomas Rold, Queenstown taking out first place on a 17 square meter kite (quite impressive in those strong conditions). 2nd Place, Troy Wyga , Glenorchy. 3rd Gavin Jackson, Dunedin. 4th place overall and taking out the Junior title, Blake porter, Dunedin. 1st Windsurfer, Paul Vilestra of Dunedin, 2nd Aki Shimizu, 3rd Chris Shaw. 1st Woman Simone Jackson, Dunedin. Simone Jackson also took out the Jude Green memorial trophy. The event is a memorial to previous club stalwart Jude Green. The trophy is given to the person who most represents the spirit of the event. Simone was alerted to a major injury at the event last year and has had very major surgery since, but throughout the year she’s kept the Downwinder as her goal and motivation to see her through the difficult times.
“We are so proud of Simone for making here today , she deserves this prize very very much. ” Sue Bradley.

Please credit these photos if you use them; Preferably ” keepsake photography ” but wouldn’t mind Vanessa Harmide. If you want to contact the photographer direct for further photos her no is 0212788875

Further info Sue Bradley 027 640 8596
Check out the press reports




November newsletter – AGM, membership, sticker access to Jardines and more

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Hi all,

Hope you’re getting some good time on the water.. wow, what a weekend we just had.

It’s that ‘memberships due’ time of year again ! We have kept the subs REALLY low at only $25.. I think we are the cheapest club in the country and look at the attached annual report to see what we’ve covered in the last year. Most importantly, we need YOUR SUPPORT to keep access to our sites open.. if it hadn’t been for our very healthy club numbers, the club sign on the gate and lots of hard work from club officials the Jardines access, a favourite spot, would have been severely limited already. Its not over yet I’m sure, but at least we’ve put a big time delay on the application for getting boats moored in the middle of the bay down there. So please support your local club and fill in the form and send back to me if any details have changed or direct credit the $25 to the club acc and send me an email to confirm name, date and address for your car sticker.

Annual Report

Apart from any other reasons of conscience this years car stickers are the coolest thing since sliced bread (see attached artwork)….. your car or truck will be decidedly non hip without one !… And besides which, please don’t go to Jardines without it… remember the terms on which we are given access by the Jardines is “Club Members only”, so help out your club by reminding any people down there that they need their club sticker.

Don’t forget the AGM next Monday 22nd Nov 8pm Dux de Lux. This is not going to be a stuffy formal meeting, this is an invitation for you to come along, and tell us what exciting ventures you’d like to get up to this year and help us to make plans to make that come true. There’ll also be cheap beer, free pizza and the new Fanatic “Addicted to Ride ” DVD with pretty amazing action slots to watch before and after.

Hope to see you soon and don’t forget to sign up for this year… do it now so you can get your car sticker sorted !

Membership form 2010-2011

All the best and for more info,
Sue 027 640 8596.

News and events, Oct 2010 – Club Day, AGM, Labour Weekend, Membership

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Well its time to put away the skis and snowboards and dust off all your summer wind toys. Some of us can report that the water is not that bad ! Quite a few sailors have been back out on the water already and some of the crazy kiters never stopped (see story later). We’re hoping for a windy season. Its La Nina pattern this year which usually means Easterlies, not so good here but possible to sail NE at Lake Dunstan so it may be time to explore, see story below about a new lovely site at Dunstan. Though David Crow, local weather guru is predicting good W/NW still and also says he thinks we’ll be getting a few more thermals than usual for more Jardines sailing… All in all looking good for a fun season.
Sat 30th Oct. Frankton Beach 11-3pm. Club Open Day, Social Sail and BBQ Lunch.
Come along and catch up. Tell anyone who’s interested in windsurfing or kiting this yr. to come along to meet others and find out about the club and sailing in our area. The club intermediate windsurf gear will be there for use also. (Clubs providing the saussies you bring the beers !)
Monday 22nd Nov. Club AGM….
Dux de Lux, Middle Bar, 8pm. Cheap beer/wine, few pizzas provided. Come along and tell us what YOU want the club to do this year.
Plenty of advance notice, so put it in your dairies now !
Labour Weekend. 23-25th OCT.
For those of you not doing Jazz and staying local, some of us will be down at the South Coast (contact Sue) and the other good option would be the Opening of Camping Season at Lake Aviemore.. get your tent site fixed for the season as its due to be good here with the La Nina pattern.
Club Membership Forms coming soon !
Do join up with the club again. We have worked hard last year to organize events, including the infamous Big Downwinder and maintain access to our great local sites, please continue to support us…Don’t forget that Jardines is access to Club Members only you should display the current car stickers…..  and besides, this years stickers are amazing, everyone will want one !
Useful website for weather sources.
For anyone keen to sail on Lake Dunstan, there are some particularly useful websites for the local vineyards which record the wind at hourly intervals.
www.harvestnz.com –then follow links for ; nz- otago- Wooing Tree (bottom of the lake) or Misha’s (top of the lake). Anything recording N/NW good, NE possible
Lesser known local sailing venues.
All club members should have had a pack with information about our usual sailing sites in the area, but some of us tested out a few newer spots at the end of last season. Attached are some photos for these(Pics 1 and 2 Dunstan/ Pic 3 Launch Point at Kelvin Heights, nr golf course);
1) Pisa Moorings, on the Western side of Lake Dunstan. Works in NW/N and sometimes NE. We used to sail from Northburn on the other side, but the locals reckon this newer spot has more consistent wind. Its certainly much better for kiters to launch. It has a nice long stretch of open lakefront that would work for body draggers to go and few hundred meters downwind then walk back up, its also very pleasant for just hanging out and picnics too. It’s a run of about 400-500 m across so encourages you to gybe more and its social cos some Wanaka sailors come here too. The water is not deep so at some times of year it can be much warmer than Wakatipu. Locals say it can be OK temperatures in Sept before the major snow melts start.
2) Kelvin Heights. Works well in a Westerly. There’s a very short track right at the end of the rd, instead of turning right onto the golf course. Little cul de sac where you can park, not brilliant rigging and a few rocks to scramble over, but good fun when you get out, you end up sailing across the bay where Jacks Point is. Worth a try for a change.
Kiting in the snow !
Boy these kiting guys are serious !! Check out the attached photos from our club members down at Colac Bay this winter. Mike tells me the latest thing is a wetsuit made with bamboo fibres, which produces something super warm.. must be to cope with these conditions. Good on ya guys !
That’s it for now….
Have a great start to the season ! See ya on the water soon, we hope ….
Any further info Sue 027 640 8596.