Opening Day is Saturday 12th October. This is the last Saturday of the school holidays, so we hope that everyone will be back in town and keen to kick off the season. This year we have an exciting addition to the programme.
We are delighted to be welcoming Bianca Cook as part of her tour promoting awareness of the New Zealand entry into the next edition of The Ocean Race. Bianca will be giving a presentation at 11am in the Aurora Lounge followed by a Q&A session. We would love to see as many club members as possible, and the Nelson community come along. More details below.
Opening Ceremony
The official opening of the club sailing season will follow Bianca’s presentation and Q&A session. Expected to be approx 12:30. This will then be followed by a safety briefing and the briefing for the days racing.
The Glasgow Picture
Not quite a circumnavigation of the world, but the traditional first race of the season includes sailing around Haulashore Island in competition for the ‘Glasgow Picture’. It is a handicapped race across all fleets with a mass start. In past years it has been won by anything from an Optimist to a Tornado!
After sailing there will be a BBQ to celebrate the completion of the new deck and start of the sailing season.
Bianca Cook Presentation – NZOR22
11AM – NYC Aurora Lounge
We are delighted to welcome Bianca Cook to the club to be part of the Opening Day proceedings.
Bianca Cook and Tony Rae are heading a New Zealand based team for the next edition of The Ocean Race which will start from Alicante, Spain in the autumn of 2021. Both are keen that the campaign be as Kiwi-centric as possible and hope to be able to fill the sailing team line-up with a fresh batch of young New Zealand sailors. The guidelines of the upcoming Ocean Race state that the VO65 class requires three under 26, four under 30 and three females, the VO65 class, providing big opportunities to the younger generation sailors who want to do ocean racing.
She is touring around the country as part of a programme to give back to the local New Zealand yacht clubs and spark interest in ocean racing. More specifically, within the junior and youth sailing communities throughout New Zealand.
Bianca will speak about New Zealand’s history in the Ocean Race as well as her previous experience in the 2017-18 race. In addition to this Bianca will speak about the importance of sustainability in preserving our oceans.
The Ocean Race is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world, sailing’s toughest team challenge and one of the sport’s big three events, alongside the Olympic Games and America’s Cup.
Contact:
For more information contact Tim on 02102503767 or info@nelsonwatersports.co.nz