Female sailors make a splash
This year’s Bay of Islands Sailing Week drew the largest entry numbers in nearly a decade.
More than 100 boats across 13 divisions took part in the CRC Bay of Islands Sailing Week, known in sailing circles as New Zealand’s most fun regatta.
Regatta Chairperson Manuela Gmuer-Hornell says participants love the event for its familyfriendly, holiday feel, as much as for the competitive element. Families often sail together, and a whole spectrum of boats and people converge to enjoy three days of colourful, scenic and competitive racing from January 23 to 26. This year also saw an increase in female participation, both on the water and on shore, GmuerHornell says.
‘‘I think there’s more female sailors this year,’’ she says.
‘‘I haven’t been on the water personally, but just seeing the photos and people around the marquee, it seems there are more girls taking part, and taking more responsibilities on board too, rather than just being ballast.’’
Gmuer-Hornell, the first female chairperson the regatta has had in its 16 year history, says she’s pleased the regatta is becoming more representative, in terms of its participants and its organising committee. One of the female sailors taking part was Sharon Ferris-Choat, the Kerikeri sailor whose multiple achievements in sailing include Olympic Games, Volvo Ocean Races and world records.
Ferris-Choat, one of three female crew on TP52 Kia Kaha, says women are playing a bigger part in yacht racing, and she would love to see more women at the professional level teaching. ‘‘There’s been a huge influx of women participating and doing some of the key roles.
‘‘It would be really neat to see more women taking on the challenge of buying boats and setting up race teams themselves. But I mean crikey, it was considered extreme bad luck a hundred years ago to have a woman on a boat, so we’ve got to consider that we’re doing leaps and bounds.’’
There were also more youth sailors at this year’s event. Paralympian Chris Sharp, who placed second overall in the Weta racing against able-bodied opponents, was pleased to see younger sailors getting in and giving it a go. CRC Bay of Islands Sailing Week takes place each year on the week preceding the Auckland Anniversary long weekend. About 2600 Far North ratepayers will share a rates refund of around $136,000 after an early version of a map excluding them from a transport rate zone was incorrectly published in the regional council’s annual plans.
An investigation which showed the error came to light after an inquiry from a Kerikeri ratepayer group last year.
Council chief executive Malcolm Nicolson has apologised for the mistake – essentially one of ‘human error’ – and says the processes and procedures leading up to it have been reviewed to prevent a repeat.
The transport trial is ongoing and an unbudgeted subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency means there will be no additional cost to ratepayers, despite the pending refund.
Councillors voted to refund the targeted transport rates paid by the owners of those 2600 properties; roughly $24 per year for noncommercial ratepayers and $49 annually for commercial by the end of June.
Letters advising of this will go to affected ratepayers.
Visit www.nrc.govt.nz more information. for