.png){kind=logo}
Kia ora
The sun is shining, the sea breezes are kicking in and it’s looking like a great Summer holiday of sailing and fun in and on the water.
We’d like to round off the term and year with a few thanks and give you all the information you need to get started in 2024.
Scroll down for information on our Holiday Programme :) Attached Learn to Sail Information for January 2024
Firstly, a big thanks to all our coaches; Aevril, Andy, Robbs, Ross, Laura & Ella and our new coach on the block – Rory. A big thanks for the hours, skills and knowledge you bring to the Club and our sailors.
To all our volunteers in the Sailing Programme who go the extra mile and give time to make sure that sailing can happen at the Club . . . an even bigger thank you. Every small contribution creates the fun, safe and beautiful environment we get to enjoy at the Club.
A few shout outs for people who have gone the extra mile this year. . .
Peta & Trish for making Friday Fun Sail happen (again),
Austin Kell, Thomas, Laura & Thomas for representing us on the General Committee,
Thomas Fewtrell for the countless hours he puts into making sure our safety vessels are in top notch condition and fueled ready to go,
Chris, Robbs, & Debbie for bringing the foiling energy to the club,
Barry, William and Mitch for lawn mowing and building services,
Jacob for hours doing our social media, website, all important marketing and sponsorship relations,
Helen & Phil Mc Neil for their ongoing support with funding applications, and all things financial,
Susan Perry for always being at the end of the administration helpline, when we are stuck,
Ken for his amazing energy and hours he puts into organising the Club House and cruise ships – for which the Sailing Programme benefits,
The Douwes family for being our resident “Feva experts” and working on Feva’s new and old,
Rawiri, Storm, Caleb & Alana Kell, for being generally amazing and always put up their hands to support coaches on the water,
To Scott Manson & Finn our super regatta helpers,
Russ, Karin and Brisa for always saying "yes" when we ring up with requests!!
Paul Stringer for help with boat maintenance.
Helen, Susan and Bev for taking up the reins on the Sailability Committee and the many Club members who help get the support as shore crew.
And to all our awesome sponsors!
Coming up in 2024 . . .
Welcome to Hana Heilkema - We are happy to announce that the General Committee have generously approved the reinstatement of a paid Head Coach role . . . this role has gotten so big since its beginnings, we have divided it into two! Aevril will continue to deliver Schools Sailing at the Club and look to grow this in 2024 and Hana Hielkema is taking on the role of Support Coach to run the Coaching Programme. This means it will be Hana sending out emails from now on and communicating via Captain’s Ap, Instagram, Facebook. She will be taking care of the daily admin of the Coaching Programme; registration, organising coaches and facilitating all areas of the coaching. We are excited to have her on board with her knowledge as a sailor, coach and her years of experience in the sport (she has had multiple roles at YNZ over the years). Hana will be gradually taking over the process through the month of January.
Sailability
We are super excited to be assisting with the running of Sailabiliy into 2024. Chris Sharp is taking a well earned break, building his house and getting some sailing in himself! Sailability has shifted to operating on Tuesdays now, with Robbs coaching. A big thanks to the many BOIYC volunteers from all over the Club whom help to get the Sailability sailors on and off the water!
Bay of Islands Sailing Week
Bay Week is an exciting time on the water. We often get inquiries from keel boat skippers who are looking for crew. Keep an eye out for posts on Captain’s Ap, closer to the time if you are keen on crewing.
Bacon Buttie Fundraiser:
We also have an exciting opportunity to fundraise at Bay Week. The fame of BOYIC regatta bacon butties has spread and we have been asked to run the breakfast tent at the Marina in Opua for three consecutive days. This will be from:
Wednesday 24th, 7:00am to 9:30am
Thursday 25th, 7:00am to 9:30am
Friday 26th, 7:00am to 9:30am
We are looking for four volunteers per morning to cook the butties and serve the hungry mobs of sailors.. No experience required! Age 8 and up are welcome to come as volunteers. It’s a great vibe in Opua during Bay Week and it will be fun to be part of it. Cooking will happen before the sailing starts, so you can volunteer in the morning and be ready to head out on the race track on time.
2024 Summer Holiday Programme
Save the date for these sailing days coming up at the Club in January.. We will be looking for volunteer sailors and coaches to help support on many of these days. Thanks to those who have already put their hands up for Learn to Sail.
WOW! Ladies and Girls Day: Monday 15th January – The ladies (and girls) can hit the water on and have a go day focused on an introduction to dinghy sailing.
Learn to Sail: Tuesday 16th – Friday 19th January
Club Summer Sailing: Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd January – If you are a current Club member who has just completed a LTS or sails in our Sailing Programme at the Club, join us for some fun days out on the water.
Have a Go: Wednesday 24th January – Do you know of someone who has never tried sailing before? This is the day to come and give it a go! A full day of fun on the water with other kids.
Club Summer Sailing: Thursday 25th & Friday 26th January - Sailing for current Club members.
Registration links will come out in the New Year, keep an eye on Captain’s Ap and via email.
Changes in 2024 . . .
Next year sees a significant exit of our current Sailing Committee members. The Sailing Committee oversees the day-to-day running of wider dinghy sailing at the Club. We have been led by Chris Fewtrell as Club Captain (aka the boss!). We report to the General Committee who take a governance role over the Sailing Programme and approve larger financial spends.
Many of our other members will be fazing out over 2024. . .
This means early 2024 is the time we need the next generation of whanau and sailors to step up and learn the ropes.
Being on the Sailing Committee is a great way to learn new skills and deploy your current skills.
We are looking for:
1. Boat Maintenance people,
2. A new Club Captain,
3. New Sailing Committee members who wish to take part in the operations of how dinghy sailing is run at the Club,
4. Regatta Coordinator - we will teach you what to do!
5. Help with safety vessels - Thomas would love an assistant to help fuel!
6. Volunteers to help run Club racing.
We meet monthly (sometimes on zoom) and we like our meetings to be concise and to the point, so we don’t waste anyone’s valuable time. Please email us or txt 021 855 986 if you are interested in a role.
Cruise ships @ The Club
Ken is always on the lookout for cruise ship helpers and summer is a great time for our kids to have a go helping on cruise ship days. You can message Ken on Captain's Ap if you are available to go along. He posts a weekly reminder about what is going on so you know what days are up for grabs.
Safe Sailing . . .
Just a reminder that we have many cruise ships visiting the Bay this Summer. Our policy at the Club is to GIVE WAY to all cruise ship tenders!
Here is the launch & retrieval guidelines on busy cruise ship days to help stay out of their way!
Term 1 Sailing, 2024
We are in the process of settling this up and information for Term 1 will come out in mid-January.
Nga Mihi
Have a great holiday break!
Bay of Islands Sailing Committee
Chris, Thomas, Jacob & Debbie Fewtrell, Ella & Robyn Parker, Paul Stringer, Helen McNeil, Bev Dickey (honorary)
