March 7th 2018
Homeworks/DK Handy Summer Twilight Series Results Race 7
With only three races remaining in the Summer Twilight Series, the field is wide open for the top positions in the three division yacht race series.
After a week of calm weather which has thwarted sailing in the Marlborough Sounds, Tuesday night’s perfect weather conditions gave the 32 yachts and crew the opportunity to shake up the leader board.
I spoke with Paul Skelton, co-owner of division 2 race winner, On Appro.
“With an unusually steady southerly wind gusting between 15-20 knots, we had the perfect weather conditions for our boat and crew. We worked really well as a team – the boat was in the right place at the right time.
On Appro was award line honours (crossing the finish line 3 minutes before their nearest competitor) and took the win on handicap.
Race 4 Results
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
| 1. Midnight
2. Satellite Spy 3. Khamsin |
1. On Appro
2. Rapport 3. Olmari |
1. Blaze Away
2. Entertainer 3. Family Affair |
MEDIA RELEASE
February 7th 2018
Dolphins join the Summer Twilight Race Series
With a summer breeze of 18-20knots (and occasional larger gusts of 25knots), a great course, and a large pod of bottlenose dolphins joining in the fun, the 3rd race of the Waikawa Boating Club Summer Twilight Series was a beautiful summer’s evening of racing for the 36 yachts and their crew.
I spoke with crew members Richard Dixon from Slingshot winner of the Division 2 race, and Theo Jensen from Moonspinner II second in Division 3 race. Richard commented: “With some big gusts of wind, we sailed with our No.2 reduced head sail. We didn’t get off to the best of starts, but with a long downhill leg the course suited our yacht and crew and we soon made up the time.” Theo, who was on the tiller of the yacht, could feel the dolphins playing with the rudder. “It was great to see the dolphins out playing and joining in with the fun”.
Race 3 Results
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
| 1. Midnight
2. Satellite Spy 3. Khamsin |
1. Slingshot
2. Acquiesce 3. Raconteur |
1. Fame
2. Moonspinner II 3. Paperchase |
MEDIA RELEASE
January 31st 2018
Summer Twilight Race Series
With 39 yachts out on the water last night, the crews enjoyed the warm evening sun and good, steady breezes for the second in a series of ten Waikawa Boating Club Summer Twilight yacht races.
I spoke with Jeremy Turnball, skipper of High Voltage, who won the Division 1 race. Jeremy’s crew of eight included guest member, Matt Stechmann from Hurricane Rigging. Matt has vast sailing experience having taken part in around the world sailing and the Americas Cup. Jeremy puts last night’s win down to a great crew, commenting: “Our guest crew member gave us all the confidence to try new things and experiment. We decided to sail without the spinnaker pole last night which helped the crew to work faster and resulted in our lead. You are always learning something new in sailing – we learnt a heap of new things last night and had a lot of fun.”
Race 2 Results
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
| 1. High Voltage
2. Khamsin 3. That’s Amore |
1. Olmari
2. Excel 3. Imagine It |
1. Reotahi
2. Supertramp 3. Finnistere |
Full race results can be found here: Summer Twilight Series Race 2 Results
Media Release
24 January 2018
Summer Twilight Race Series off to Flying Start
The first race of the Waikawa Boating Club Summer Twilight Series got off to a flying start with a steady northeast breeze prevailing throughout the duration of the race making it a tight battle for the finish line.
The 41 yachts and their crew enjoyed the uncommon weather conditions, with long spinnaker runs to the finish.
We spoke with Clive Ballett, skipper of Slingshot who won the Division 2 Race.
Clive, who sailed with a full crew including 2 visitors from Wales, commented: “The weather was great and the water was fairly flat. We had a good start. The leading yachts were very tight at the windward, and from there the gaps opened up. The highlight of the race for us was our spinnaker work – excellent crew work that enabled us to take the lead”.
Race 1 Results
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
| 1. Bluebird
2. Flying Fox 3. Drinks Trolley |
1. Slingshot
2. Olmari 3. Excel |
1. Reotahi
2. Bandit 3. Family Affair |
Media Release
9th January 2018
Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta & Flying Fifteens National
Preparations are taking shape for the annual Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta to be held at Waikawa Boating Club at the end of this week (12-14 January). This year, the boating club is also proudly hosting the Flying Fifteens National Championship in conjunction with the regatta, and with fifty-six boats already entered in the three day competition, the event is the largest keel boat regatta south of Auckland.
The Flying Fifteen is a high-performance planing dinghy which is now the most popular one design keel-boat class in the world (the “fifteen” refers to its waterline length) and capable of some 14 knots. The National Championship will consist of three days of racing starting on Friday morning.
The 2018 Lawson’s Dry Hill New Year Regatta will kick off on Friday evening with the invitation twilight race that allows the skippers to put craft and crew through their final paces before the regatta begins the following morning. Sailing will continue throughout Saturday and Sunday with the four division regatta – Division 1 and 2 will see the crews pushing their boats to the limits in fast-action races around a short course., whilst in the two cruising divisions (white sails and spinnakers/gennakers) the races will take in more of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound in a perfect combination of long course and competition.
This is the 11th year that Lawson’s Dry Hills Wines have generously sponsored the New Year Regatta. Nicky Jenkins, organiser of the 2018 regatta comments: “The regatta has huge support with sponsorship coming in from a great range of local and national businesses and boats from around the South Island, across the Cook Straight and up to Hawkes Bay. With Lawson’s Dry Hills Wines sponsorship over the past 11 years, the regatta has gone from strength to strength – we are looking forward to an excellent weekend of sun, sea and sails in the Marlborough Sounds”.
Media Release
28th June 2016
Savvy Sailors Prepare Early for 2016 Vintage
October 14th 2016 has just been announced as the date of this year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race. Since 2001, this epic race across Cook Strait combines the excitement of offshore yacht racing with the exhilaration of releasing the new vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine into our capital city from the mainland. This exciting yacht race is based on the traditional “Beaujolais Nouveau” where the first Beaujolais wines are transported by sail from France to the UK.
Starting at the entrance to the Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds, the hardy skippers must push the limits of their yacht and crew to be the first to deliver their wine across the finish line in Wellington Harbour. In 2015, forty yachts with 230 sailors set off with sunny skies and fifteen knots of wind to safely transport a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from one of thirty Marlborough wineries. This unique event has become a highlight on the New Zealand’s offshore yacht race calendar and the organisers expect an even larger fleet for this year’s race.
We are extremely pleased to have our Platinum sponsor, WineWorks, back for the ninth year running. Tim Nowell-Ustike, Managing director for WineWorks, said “They were absolutely stoked to be a part of this great race again, delivering the precious cargo from South to North by sail”. We are also delighted to announce, the Bank of New Zealand as a new gold sponsor for this event.
Back on shore in Wellington post-race, Wine Marlborough will be hosting their annual Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tasting event which celebrates the arrival of the race yachts and their carefully stowed bottle of wine. This year’s event will be held from 5.30pm – 7.30pm after the race, on Friday October 14th, at the Makaro room in the beautiful Wharewaka Function Centre on Taranaki Street Wharf. Marlborough wineries will be pouting their newly released 2016 Sauvignon Blancs accompanied by complimentary nibbles.
The Waikawa Boating Club will be hosting a pre- race fun day on Saturday 8th October, for sponsors and participating wineries to test their sea legs as well as get a sneak preview of the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc wines which will be released in Wellington.
Media Release
Nov. 20th 2015
Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta announced on Jan 9th – 10th 2016
The 2016 Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta is on Jan 9th and 10th at the Waikawa Boating Club. This is the largest keel boat sailing regatta south of Tauranga and the 65th year the Waikawa Boating Club has been hosting boats from our local fleet as well as from Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington and even farther afield. Lawson’s Dry Hills has been the premier sponsor of this exciting event in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds for the past nine years.
This year we are expecting an exceptional turn-out as 2015 was our biggest regatta ever with fifty yachts and more than 250 crew participating in this fantastic event. The 26 races over the weekend offer something for every yacht and sailor with long and short courses, spinnaker and white-sails divisions as well as a Farr 1020 division. The event kicks off on the Friday night with the PIC Insurance invitational twilight race. This race will allow the skippers to put their craft and crew through their final paces before the regatta begins the following morning.
The regatta has keel, sport and trailer boat divisions that will have the crews pushing their boats to the limits in fast-action races around a short course. In the two cruising divisions the races will take in more of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound in a perfect combination of long course and competition. For Farr 1020 skippers the regatta is an ideal opportunity to test their yacht against nearly identical rivals.
With the Marlborough Sounds being the home of the Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta there is no better place to bring your yacht full of family and friends for some sailing in summer paradise with a bit of racing thrown in. There are also many local activities and attractions for the landlubbers as well.
This fabulous event has cash prizes totalling $3000 as well as fantastic wine from Lawson’s Dry Hills for the winners. For the second year running we have also partnered with local business sponsors to award great prizes to the top yachts in each individual race.
The Notice of Race is out now at www.waikawaboatingclub.co.nz with early-bird discount on registration until Nov 30th! Come sail, race and cruise in Marlborough’s ultimate playground.
For more information contact:
Heather Barnes
Waikawa Boating Club
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
03 573 6798
Press Release
November 3rd 2015
Winery and Yacht Match Announced for the 2015 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race
Excitement is building with only three days to go until the 2015 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race. The 2015 race is the largest fleet ever with 39 yachts taking part in this extraordinary race across Cook Strait to be the first to deliver the new vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to the shores of our nation’s capital.
We are very pleased to announce that the participating wineries have been paired with the following yachts as part of our 2015 race fleet:
- Beviamo – Astrolabe Wines
- Blink – Rapaura Springs Wines
- Excel – Forrest Estate
- Heatwave – Wither Hills
- Satellite Spy – Spy Valley Wines
- Airship – Stanley Estates
- Berocca – Seresin Estate
- Zennith – Nautilus Estate
- Joint Effort – Clos Marguerite
- Oldsmobile – Villa Maria Estate
- Free Rein – Eradus Wines
- Ezee – Tohu
- Rapport – Indevin
- Jungle – Awatere River Wines
- Paradigm – Summerhouse Wines
- Wai Aniwa – Isabel Vineyard Wines
- Bon Chanse – Yealands Estate
- Olmari – Awatere River Wine
- Voila – Cloudy Bay Wines
- Sirrah – Sileni Estates
- Findhorn – Vavasour Wines
- Hon Fleur – Eradus Wines
- Northern Rebel – Saint Clair Estate
- Flying Tiger – Konrad Wines
- Flying Fox – Babich Wines
- Khamsin – Ara
- DaVision Belle – Astrolabe Wines
- Settimio – Konrad Wines
- Montego Bay 3 – Lawson’s Dry Hills
- Family Affair – Saint Clair Estate
- Acquiesce – Whitehaven Wines
- Midnight – Mud House Wines
- Illusions – Nautilus Estate
- Defiant – Lawson’s Dry Hills
- Bavaria – Grove Mill Winery
- Ringleader – Villa Maria Estate
- Nefertiti – Cloudy Bay Wines
- Vanquish – Spy Valley Wines
- Squealer – Matua Valley Wines
We are looking forward to an epic sail and celebrating the release of this year’s vintage. To join us in the celebrations, purchase your tickets to Wine Marlborough’s post-race Taste of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tasting event at the Wharewaka Function Centre at www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK. Don’t miss the boat, buy your tickets now to sample Marlborough’s finest Sauvignon Blanc!
For further information
Heather Barnes
03 573 6798
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
Press Release
October 8th 2015
2015 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race partners with Life Flight charity
With thirty-eight yachts entered to date, this year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race on November 6th is shaping up to be our biggest, most exciting event ever. The race, in its thirteenth year, sees a fleet of yachts racing the wind and waves to deliver a bottle of new vintage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc across the notorious Cook Strait for release in our nation’s capital. In last year’s race the hardy skippers and crew faced 45 km/h winds and four metre seas to safely deliver their dedicated Marlborough winery’s carefully stowed bottle of wine to Wellington.
A perfect end to this epic day will be relaxing at Wine Marlborough’s Taste of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tasting event at the Wharewaka Function Centre from 5:30om to 8:00 pm. Guests will enjoy beautiful Marlborough wine on the wonderful Wellington waterfront accompanied by live music and gourmet canapes. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the winemakers behind the wine, hear their stories and find out just what makes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc world famous. Tickets are $29 (+fees) with $2 from every ticket sale donated to Life Flight. Tickets are available at www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK
The WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht race is pleased to announce a partnership with Life Flight. Life Flight is a charity providing emergency air services with their Westpac NZ Rescue Helicopter and nationwide air ambulance plane. Each flight requires around $2,500 in fundraising to make it possible. We are proud to be donating a portion of the yacht entry fees and Taste of Marlborough tickets sales as well as hosting fundraising events for this very important organisation.
For further information and yacht registration:
Heather Barnes
Waikawa Boating Club
03 573 6798
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
Press Release
2015 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race announced for Nov. 6th
November 6th 2015 has just been announced as the date of this year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race. In its thirteenth year, this epic race across the Cook Strait combines the excitement of offshore yacht racing with the exhilaration of releasing the new vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine in our capital city.
Starting at the entrance to the Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds the hardy skippers must push the limits of their yacht and crew to be the first to deliver their wine across the finish line in Wellington Harbour. In 2014 twenty eight yachts battled forty five km/h winds and four meter seas to safely transport a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from one of thirty Marlborough wineries. This unique event has become a highlight on the New Zealand offshore yacht race calendar and the organizers expect an even larger fleet and more dedicated wineries for this year’s race.
We are extremely pleased to have our Gold sponsor, WineWorks back for the seventh year running. Peter Crowe, National Operations Manager for WineWorks, said they were proud to support an event which “embodies all that is great about living in Marlborough; our proximity to the Marlborough Sounds, yachting and of course great wine.”
Back on shore in Wellington post-race, Wine Marlborough will be hosting their annual Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tasting event which celebrates the arrival of the race yachts and their carefully stowed bottle of wine. This year’s event will be held from 5:30 – 7:30pm on Friday Nov. 6th at the Makaro Room in the beautiful Wharewaka Function Centre on Taranaki Street Wharf. Marlborough wineries will be pouring their newly released 2015 Sauvignon Blancs accompanied by complementary nibbles.
The Waikawa Boating Club will be hosting a pre- race fun day on October 17th for sponsors and participating wineries to test their sea legs as well as get a sneak preview of the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc wines which will be released in Wellington.
For further information and yacht registration:
Heather Barnes
Waikawa Boating Club
03 573 6798
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
For further information, tasting event tickets and winery registration:
Samantha Young
Wine Marlborough
03 577 2391
samantha@wine-marlborough.co.nz
Press Release
Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta on Jan 10th-11th 2015
The Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta on Jan 10th and 11th 2015 is the “top of the South” premier keel boat sailing regatta. It is the sixty-fourth year of a Waikawa Boating Club regatta in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds and the eighth year of premier sponsorship by Lawson’s Dry Hills. With twenty-six races in five divisions throughout the weekend there is something for every yacht and sailor with long and short courses, spinnaker and white-sails divisions and for the first time, Farr 1020 and Noelex 22 classes.
The event kicks off on the Friday evening with the PIC Insurance invitational twilight race. This race will allow the skippers to put their craft and crew through their final paces before the regatta begins the following morning.
The regatta has keel, sport and trailer boat divisions that will have the crews pushing their boats to the limits in fast-action races around a short course. In the two cruising divisions (with and without spinnakers/gennakers) the races will take in more of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound in a perfect combination of long course and competition. For Farr 1020 and Noelex 22 skippers the regatta is an ideal opportunity to test their yacht against nearly identical rivals.
Back ashore the Waikawa Boating Club will have been transported to the Bahamas for the legendary Jimmy Buffet Tribute Regatta party featuring tropical cocktails, a delicious feast and music by local star Midge McCleary and his band.
With the Marlborough Sounds being the home of the Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta there is no better place to bring your yacht full of family and friends for some sailing in summer paradise with a bit of racing thrown in. There are also many local activities and attractions for the landlubbers as well.
This is a fabulous event with cash prizes totaling $3000 as well as fantastic wine from Lawson’s Dry Hills, the 2013 winner for the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world.
The Notice of Race is out now at www.waikawaboatingclub.co.nz ! Come sail, race and cruise in Marlborough’s ultimate playground.
For more information contact:
Heather Lacey
PR and Communications
Waikawa Boating Club
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
03 573 6798
Press Release
Nov 7th 2014
2014 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race
After a challenging start with a postponement on Nov 6th due to forty knot winds that created unsafe racing conditions and a lack of wind causing a delay on Nov 7th the 2014 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race commenced at mid-morning under sunny skies and building wind.
Twenty-eight yachts and thirty Marlborough wineries were represented this year, making the 12th annual WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race the largest ever. The race is loosely based on the traditional Beaujolais Nouveau, where the first Beaujolais wines were transported from France to the UK. This race is unique in New Zealand with each yacht racing a bottle of new vintage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from a different winery across the Cook Strait to be the first to land it on the shores of Wellington.
This year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race was an epic race across a demanding stretch of water with thirty to forty five km/h winds and ocean swells up to four metres. 164 sailors battled their way through the difficult seas and Spy Valley Wines gained the honours of having the first 2014 Sauvignon Blanc wine arrive in Wellington on Paradigm, skippered by David Ensor. Richelle Collier, assistant winemaker at Spy Valley Wines who was aboard Paradigm for her first sailing experience ever reported that “it was a bit rough, a never ending roller coaster through the Terawhiti rip but [the crew] always had it under control, they made it look easy.” It may have appeared plain sailing, but Paradigm and her crew had an excellent race to be the first across the line.
Gucci, skippered by Brent Dewhurst won the race carrying a bottle of Stanley Estates’ Sauvignon Blanc. Dewhurst who has sailed for many years including a round the world voyage was praised by his crew member Rob Fagan. Fagan said that “we have a good skipper…always calm and cool, never gets excited so we feel confident.” It is Gucci’s third time in the race and he knew the ropes, not needing to make too many sail changes during the race as he felt comfortable in the conditions, which proved to be a winning strategy.
The race was organised by the Waikawa Boating Club and Wine Marlborough and was complemented by a consumer event in Wellington, Pop-Up Marlborough, on Nov 6th to showcase the 2014 Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs and the best of Marlborough’s produce from the sea, land and larder.
Results:
Line Honours: Paradigm – skippered by David Ensor, carrying Spy Valley Wines
Handicap Placings:
1st Gucci – skippered by Brent Dewhurst – carrying Stanley Estates
2nd Voila – skippered by David McGill and Helen Ensor – carrying Cloudy Bay
3rd Maracas – skippered by Ash Davey- carrying St Clair Family Estate
4th Beviamo – skippered by Ross Anderson – carrying Astrolabe Wines
For further information:
Heather Lacey- Waikawa Boating Club
0204 043 7144 race.wine@gmail.com
Press Release
November 4th 2014
Winery and Yacht Match Announced for the WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race
Excitement is building with only two days to go until the 2014 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race. The 2014 race is the largest ever with 31 yachts taking part in this extraordinary race across Cook Strait to be the first to deliver the new 2014 vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to the shores of our nation’s capital.
We are very pleased to announce that the participating wineries have been paired with the following yachts as part of our 2014 race fleet:
- Whitehaven Wines – Acquiesce
- Grove Mill Winery – Bavaria
- Astrolabe Wines – Beviamo
- Tohu –Cashmere 3
- Mount Riley Wines – Family Affair & Illusions
- Giesen Wines – Findhorn
- Babich Wines – Flying Fox
- Stanley Estates Ltd – Gucci
- Wither Hills – Heatwave
- Charles Wiffen Wines- Hon Fleur
- Lawson’s Dry Hills Winery – Defiant
- Vavasour- Duett0
- Forrest Wines – Excel
- Squealing Pig – Imp Zap
- Clos Marguerite – Joint Effort
- Jackson Estate- Jungle
- Ara – Khamsin
- St Clair Family Estate- Maracas
- Mud House Wines – Midnight
- Matua – Montego Bay III
- Villa Maria Estate – Oldsmobile
- Spy Valley Wines – Paradigm
- Wairau River – Prime Suspect
- Marisco Vineyards – Rapport
- Konrad Wines – Settimio
- Sileni Estates – Sirrah
- Four Hawk Day – Summerwine
- Auntsfield Estate- The Guarantee
- Cloudy Bay – Voila
- Nautilus Estate – Zenith
We are looking forward to an epic sail and celebrating the release of this year’s vintage. To join us in the celebrations, purchase your tickets to ‘Pop-Up Marlborough’ in the heart of Wellington via itickets.co.nz.
Don’t miss the boat, book now to sample Marlborough’s finest Sauvignon Blanc!
For further information:
Heather Lacey
Waikawa Boating Club
03 573 6798
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
Waikawa Boating Club Beach Clean Up Day – 1st November
On Saturday, November 1st members of the Waikawa Boating Club brought out their boats to help clean up our ocean playground in the Queen Charlotte Sound. Under sunny skies seven boats headed out for the day to pick up any rubbish on the beaches by thirty of the Waikawa Boating Club Pelorus and Mana Cruising Club moorings. The club members were joined by seven divers from Boating Marlborough who cleaned the ocean floor around the moorings.
The Waikawa Boating Club has been running a Beach Clean Up Day for the past few years to give back to the natural areas that their members enjoy. Sue van Velzen, the Club Manager volunteered on her yacht Heatwave with her husband Ron. Sue said that she wanted to “do [her] bit to keep the environment clean and green. We enjoy spending time in the sounds and while we and other club members collect rubbish when we are on the beach it is good to have a concerted effort”
Each boat and crew were responsible for visiting four or five beaches. Mark and Sue Altoft were in charge of the beaches by the moorings in Tory Channel and removed three black council rubbish bags worth of debris. Of the four beaches they tidied, three were happily quite clean and they only managed to fill one bag from those three. Unfortunately Missionary Bay required two bags to get things pristine again.
The most common items found on the beaches were small pieces of rope and plastic items such as bottles, milk bottle lids and plastic bags. On the sea bottom the divers found glass bottles, cans and a battery. The best find of the day went to Mark Altoft who found part of a $20 bill which he was able to trade in at the bank for a new $10 note! Sue said that “on the whole the beaches were pretty good but there is room for improvement with plastics and rope.”
Everyone who participated had a good day on the water and generously made the beaches and ocean floor even more beautiful for all of us who enjoy our aquatic backyard.
