Waikato – Bay of Plenty Regional Update for ILCA.nz for AGM 25 March 2022

 

Last season we scrambled through Covid lockdowns & traffic lights, awaiting a fresh season, esp in Waikato.

 

Winter ILCA sailing happened in Tauranga (fortnightly) providing a regional gathering point for ILCA6 racing. Sailors came from Ohope, Taupo, Rotorua, Ngaroto, and Hamilton.

Keeping everyone to a single ILCA6 fleet kept numbers around 8-12 and competition strong.  Over & above the individual scoring, we informally ran a masters v youth competition (recording the best 3 places). This made for some good spirited competition, humour, and the odd patch of match racing.   At Queen’s Birthday a strong regional contingent attended Ohope’s annual regatta which is a major boost for their regatta.

 

In July, Tauranga’s Teagan Denney attended the youth worlds as the female youth rep.  Tom Saunders, also Tauranga, continues to hold his top position on the World ILCA stage.   Both are outstanding role models & inspiration for our youth.  Ex World Champ Nik Burfoot is now coordinating coaching in Tauranga; thereby making it an attractive drawcard for up & coming youth in ILCAs; rather than having them graduate from starlings & spread across several fleets.

 

As the summer season gets underway, ILCA club racing has vibrant fleets in key places. Tauranga now draws a strong fleet of 10-12 ILCA6s each Sunday. They continue to encourage everyone to remain in ILCA6s so that it is a tight competitive single fleet. Several youth are now entering/eyeing AON squad over the next couple of seasons.  And the masters continue to push them for excellence. 

 

Taupo continues to hold a combination of ILCA6s & 7s, with several members investing in newer boats.   In mid-March 2023 Taupo’s regatta will also be used as an ILCA North Island Freshwater Champs, hoping to attract sailors from across the NIs. This may offer a NI wide regatta for end of season.

 

Hamilton continues to hold its core of strong masters, very skilled at picking wind shifts on a lake. George Lane continues to win open ILCA6 events, keeping HYC on the NZ radar.  They are rebuilding the starling fleet and getting outcrop regattas.that will likely move into ILCAs next season.  

 

At Ngaroto and Raglan a core of club ILCA7s meet for club racing, but not much travelling beyond.  Two families in these contexts are now travelling their ILCA6 youth beyond to Auckland and Tauranga in order to connect with other youth, and increase their competitiveness.  The dads are also racing ILCA6s outside their clubs, and will likely take these experiences back to their local clubs.  They are now committing to NIs in Napier and look forward to the free entry for Nationals as a helpful incentive.

 

As a combined region, we considered setting up a 5 regatta ILCA Traveller Series this summer; but instead have focussed on encouraging attendance at two key regional regattas; Tauranga (late Feb) and Taupo (mid March); with Ohope offering a pleasant Queens Birthday winter option.

 

Recently across the region ILCAs made a commitment to support the Rotorua Sprints regatta in mid-October.  Tauranga fleet committed to forego club racing points being counted, in order to encourage attendance at Rotorua.  We look forward to Rotorua getting its ILCA sailors to hopefully Tauranga & or Taupo regattas as a reciprocation.

 

We’ve talked of a coaching weekend, but with busy schedules, regattas booked, and Tauranga already offering strong youth coaching, we haven’t found a date to book.

 

Female ILCA6 sailors continue to feature as strong competitors amidst these ILCA6 fleets; and are attentive to encouraging one another. Having singular ILCA6 fleets benefits youth & women. Where clubs mix ILCA6s & 7s, we recommend having prizes for both fleets; but also consider having separate starts.  Good ILCA6s are unfairly buried by average ILCA7s off the start line; which becomes a disincentive for racing an ILCA6; and risks them changing to a different boat.

 

Overall, regional networking over several seasons is paying dividends with ILCA vibrancy in a number of clubs.  We strongly encourage reciprocation if clubs want others to attend their home regattas.  Having a core of masters in ILCA6s provides fleet stability as youth age in and depart out of the fleet.  Creating good spirited competition, with humour and encouragement for the youth, also adds attraction & retention in the fleet.

 

Thanks again to ILCA.nz for offering support to the region. We look forward to being a strong presence at NIs & Nationals.

 

Helen Spencer

Waikato-BoP Rep