New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic gold medal winning sailing pair have announced that they will campaign again with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in their sights.

Gold medallists in the Women’s 470, Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie declared their intention to get back in the boat and do it all again at a sponsor function hosted by Apollo Projects in Christchurch last Thursday.

With a flurry of engagements, public appearances, club visits and Awards ceremonies since standing on the podium in Weymouth, Aleh and Powrie have taken their time to consider what comes next.

Olympic Programme Director at Yachting New Zealand is understandably delighted that both Aleh and Powrie will be part of the NZL Sailing Team in this next cycle.

“It is great news – not just for our next Olympic campaign – but also for yachting in New Zealand,” says Fanstone. “At 26 and 24 years old, Jo and Olivia are young sailors with obvious potential to represent New Zealand with more success in future.”

He continues; “Sailors who make the NZL Sailing Team, such as our recent medallists, are all super talented and hugely committed. Over the coming four years we’ll target key regattas including Oceanbridge Sail Auckland here in New Zealand and the internationals such as ISAF Sailing World Cup events and World Championships to put us back in medal winning form for Rio.”

“Their success makes us all proud, and with their faces in the spotlight there’ll be plenty more junior sailors out there wanting to be ‘just like Jo and Polly’. And they are our future champions.”

Getting in behind Team Jolly’s next campaign, Apollo Projects Group CEO Paul Lloyd has this to say, “Becoming part of the Team Jolly crew has been a real thrill for our company and all our team.”

“Apollo has also introduced and secured four other financial sponsors, a vehicle sponsor and a boat sponsor for Team Jolly. The new level of support now obtained will ensure all decisions can be made based on what is needed to stay at the top and not what they can afford.”

Regattas in 2013 featuring the 470 class include…

2-5 February 2013
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta
Royal Akarana Yacht Club, AUCKLAND

30 March-6 April             
ISAF Sailing World Cup/Palma
Palma, SPAIN

20-27 April, 2013             
ISAF Sailing World Cup / Hyeres
Hyeres, FRANCE

5-August 2013 
470 Men's & Women's World Championships   
La Rochelle, FRANCE

Orbit Corporate Travel Sailor of the Year for 2012 has been awarded to Olympic golden girls Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie, while their coach, Nathan Handley has been named 2012 Singapore Airlines Coach/Official of the Year.
These and other Awards were presented at yachting’s annual celebration, the 2012 Yachting Excellence Awards where a crowd of around 300 packed out the waterfront venue at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron tonight (Friday evening).

Kept in suspense until the end of proceedings Aleh and Powrie were announced as the winners of the major prize, presented the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy by Sir Colin Giltrap and Brendan Drury from Orbit Corporate Travel. Their names are now engraved on the silverware alongside the likes of Sir Russell Coutts, Barbara Kendall, Sir Peter Blake, Grant Dalton, Tom Ashley and many more big names in yachting since the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy was first presented in 1969.  

This accomplishment tops off an amazing year for the women’s 470 sailing pair who made the history books when they sailed to Olympic glory off the coast of Weymouth, England in August.

The Olympic Champions are excited about the opportunity to fulfil the 2012 Olympic mantra and ‘inspire a generation’. In the lead-up to tonight’s Awards Ceremony Aleh and Powrie were part of a group of sailing’s Heroes and Legends signing posters, posing for photos and answering the questions of a crowd of enthusiastic youngsters who turned out at Westhaven Marina.

On Saturday morning the girls fly to Wellington where they will visit a number of the capital’s yacht clubs to meet with local sailors, show off their Olympic medals and sign posters.

Gold medal coach, Nathan Handley was named the winner of the 2012 Singapore Airlines Coach/Official of the Year from a list of nine finalists in the category.

With them from the outset of their partnership, Nathan Handley has coached and nurtured Team Jolly - Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie – through the high points and set backs of their four year campaign in the Women’s 470 through to the very proud moment of an Olympic Gold medal.

2012 Singapore Airlines Young Sailor of the Year went to up and coming 49er sailors Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski. Among the six category finalists Hansen and Porebski, who are training partners to Olympic silver medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, were the crew whose recent results impressed the judging panel most.

They joined forces in the 49er just last year quickly demonstrating their formidable talent with selection to the NZL Sailing Team and sixth place at the 2012 49er World Championships in Croatia in May, while both just 19 years of age.

Another young talent was recognised last night with the Yachting New Zealand Emerging Talent Award supported by OKI which recognises considerable promise in yachting. Nominated by the Hamilton Yacht Club, Isaac McHardie started his sailing career with a learn to sail course in 2007 going on to become the most successful junior sailor from the Club in its 75 year history; he is Tanner Cup Champion for two consecutive years running (2011 and 2012).

The Yachting New Zealand President’s Award went to Napier Sailing Club AND the 2011 Optimist World Championship Organizing Committee for the impressive combined effort in delivering an absolutely top notch event at the 2012 Optimist World Championship held in January.  This international regatta attracted 210 competitors from 48 countries covering all continents. In addition there were 228 volunteers plus 124 Officials and Coaches.

Here is a complete list of those recognised at the 2012 Yachting Excellence Awards…

Orbit Corporate Travel Sailor of the Year: Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie

Singapore Airlines Young Sailor of the Year Winner: Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski

Finalists included

Ellie Copeland and Erica Dawson - 5th at the 2012 ISAF Youth World Championships (Female 420)
Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski – 6th at the 2012 49er World Championships
Gemma Jones and Tomer Simhony – 5th at the 2012 ISAF Youth World Championships (SL16)
Andrew McKenzie – 2nd at the 2012 Laser Radial Youth World Championships
Trent Rippey and Alex Munro – National and international success in the 29er class
James Turner – 2nd at the 2012 470 Junior World Championships

Singapore Airlines Coach/Official of the Year

Finalists included

Shane Borrell – Umpire for Women’s Match Racing at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Jez Fanstone – Coached Peter Burling and Blair Tuke to Olympic Silver
Russell Green – A Judge at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Nathan Handley – Coached Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie to Olympic Gold
Aaron McIntosh – Coached Dorian Van Rijsselberghe to Olympic Gold
John Parrish – Race Officer for the Laser and Laser Radial at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Ralph Roberts – Chairman of the Jury at the 2012 London Paralympic Games
David Slyfield – Performance planner to New Zealand’s Olympic sailing medallists
Sara Winther – Coach to New Zealand’s most successful Laser Masters Worlds Team ever

Yachting New Zealand Emerging Talent Award supported by OKI:

Isaac McHardie, Hamilton Yacht Club

2012 Yachting New Zealand Performance Awards

Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie- Gold in the Women’s 470 at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke - Silver in the Men’s 49er at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Mike Keeton - Gold medal at the Laser Masters World Championships – Radial Grand Master
Andy Maloney - Bronze medal at the 2012 Laser Standard Senior Men's World Championships
Brad Marsh - Groupama Bowman, winning the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race
Andrew Murdoch - 5th Laser at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Hamish Pepper & Jim Turner - 5th Star at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason  Saunders - 5th Men’s 470 at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Jon-Paul Tobin - Bronze medal at the 2012 RSX Men's World Championships
Alex Vallings & Crew - Winner of the 2012 18FT Skiff International Regatta

2012 Yachting New Zealand Service Awards

Gary Corkin - Richmond Yacht Club
Derry Godbert - Kerikeri Cruising Club
John Greenfield - Heretaunga Boating Club
Kit Grigg - Akaroa Yacht Club
Ross Markwick - Royal NZ Yacht Squadron
Gerald Martin - Napier Sailing Club & NZIODA
Les McBean - Port Chalmers Yacht Club
Don McBeth, Don Waterer, Gail Sanders & Peter Channings – French Bay Yacht Club
Joyce Talbot - Classic Yacht Association of NZ
Ivor Wilkins – Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Yachting New Zealand Cruising Award:

Kerry Farrand, Kerikeri Cruising Club

Yachting New Zealand President’s Award supported by Vodafone

Napier Sailing Club AND The 2011 Opti Worlds Organizing Committee for the 2012 Optimist Sailing Worlds Championships

Yachting New Zealand is proud to announce that New Zealand’s premier Olympic and Paralympic Class regatta has a new name: Oceanbridge Sail Auckland.

Oceanbridge, a New Zealand owned and operated international shipping and freight specialist, has come on board as the naming rights sponsor for this annual regatta which will next be held from 2-5 February 2013.

“We’re really excited about this new relationship” said Bill Speedy, Oceanbridge’s managing director. “The regatta is evolving and international participation is on the rise. We look forward to playing our part in taking Oceanbridge Sail Auckland up to the next level.”

Last year, the regatta attracted over 230 competitors from 16 countries and many of those attended the event in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Speedy continued. “We hope that our continued involvement can help develop the international reputation of the regatta and support sailors from outside the Auckland region and outside New Zealand to attend”.

Oceanbridge has offices in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, and provides a complete shipping and freight package to many New Zealand importers and exporters by land, sea or air including customs and trucking.

“Yachting New Zealand and Oceanbridge have a long standing relationship; not only in terms of logistical support for our high performance and youth sailors, but through contribution to major sailing events in NZ such as Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta”. Dave Abercrombie, YNZ’s Chief Executive explained.

“The purpose of Sail Auckland is to foster and promote Olympic and Paralympic class sailing in NZ.” Abercrombie said.  “We need people from all over New Zealand and also international participants to boost the size and depth of the fleets. This relationship with Oceanbridge will help to achieve that”.

Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will be held from 2-5 February 2013 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. Registration is now open online the new regatta website.

Stay up to date with the event news as it happens online Oceanbridge Sail Auckland’s Facebook page.

Fast facts: Oceanbridge Sail Auckland

Mission: To provide the best ISAF Grade 1 regatta for local and international sailors and providing a world class experience both on and off the water.

Competing classes: All Olympic and Paralympic boats and the following invited classes OK, 420, 29er, 12’ Skiff, F18, RS:X 9.5, RS:X 8.5, Access 303, Access Liberty, Kiteboard Racing

The Host: Established in 1895, Royal Akarana Yacht Club has as strong racing.  In mid 2011 RAYC was announced as the new host club of Oceanbridge Sail Auckland and since then has flourished as a race venue for Olympic and off-the-beach centreboard classes and multihulls.

Facility: New Zealand’s longest launching ramp and fully equipped club house including a bar and cafe which is open for the duration of the event.  Sailors and guests will enjoy a relaxed and chilled out environment.

Registration: Online the event website www.sailauckland.org.nz
Event Schedule

Friday 25 January
Entries Close @ Midnight

Friday 1 February
Registration for Competitors and Support Boats – 1600 to 1900 hours
Welcome and Briefing – 1900 hours

Saturday 2 February
Registration for Competitors and Support Boats – 0800 to 0900 hours
RACING | First Warning Signal – 1100 hours

Sunday 3 February
RACING | First Warning Signal – 1100 hours

Monday 4 February
RACING | First Warning Signal – 1100 hours

Tuesday 5 February
RACING | First Warning Signal – 1100 hours
Prize Giving & BBQ – ASAP after racing
No warning signal will be made after 1500 hours

Emirates Team New Zealand is ratcheting up its AC72 sailing programme, moving on from primarily conducting reliability and system testing to a focus on racing and speed development.

The yacht will go into the shed for 10 days for, amongst other things, modifications that are designed to extract greater performance from the boat.

Grant Dalton says: “After 16 days on the water, we are comfortable with the boat and we can work on building speed by developing on-board systems and racing mechanics and giving the sailing crew time to develop communications and boat handling.

“The design department has collated and analysed a massive amount of data every time the 72 has sailed and has come up with some changes that we expect will improve performance.

“Amongst the obvious changes are fairings which are designed to reduce windage and therefore drag will be installed on the back beam and elsewhere. We have not done this before because the fairings make access needed to tune various systems and visual checks of the structure more difficult

“Once we have completed the work, the team will back into on-the-water testing and spending time on sailing crew development.”

Emirates Team New Zealand says the America’s Cup event organizer’s decision to abandon development of a team hub on the San Francisco waterfront is irresponsible and another let-down for San Francisco. It ignores the America’s Cup conditions of entry under which all teams are contractually bound to exclusively conduct their operations from team bases provided by the event organisers in an America’s Cup village.                   

Managing director Grant Dalton said: “The original vision of locating all team bases on Piers 30 and 32 along with all the facilities required to operate the AC72s, will not be fulfilled.”                

“A site plan showing team bases and the facilities has been in circulation for months and, as recently as the last regatta at San Francisco, event organisers promised to provide hospitality facilities. Negotiations have got as far as allocating base areas to individual teams.

“Teams have been planning their operations in San Francisco next year on the strength of these promises.

“To hear yesterday that those plans have been abandoned six months from when the teams would move to San Francisco is scandalous. Oracle, which has a permanent base on city limits, will not be adversely affected."

“Two teams in particular – Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa – will be disadvantaged,” he said                                                                        

The decision potentially denies the people of San Francisco and visitors to the city an opportunity to see all the teams close up. Just as with motor racing, people like to visit the pits. With the Swedish team wanting to be based at Alameda and Oracle a long way to the south and out of reach to the public, the city and port authority may not realize expected financial returns that have been widely publicised by the organisers.       

“Our team has experienced nothing but goodwill and warmth from the people and authorities in San Francisco and we feel acute embarrassment at this turn of events. We hope authorities are able to step in and hold organizers accountable for this further retreat which is symptomatic of a continuing pattern."

Peter Burling’s Olympic silver medal has opened the door to an exciting opportunity to helm Team Korea’s AC45 for the coming round of the America’s Cup World Series set to start in San Francisco on October 2nd.

In 2008, at 17 years old, Burling became the youngest sailor to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games, now 21 the Tauranga prodigy is set to become the youngest skipper competing in the Americas Cup World Series.

“Yachting New Zealand is delighted that Peter has this opening into the America’s Cup domain; it’s a terrific opportunity for him and well deserved given the commitment and dedication he has always given to sailing,” says David Abercrombie, Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive.

Peter Burling hit the record books as the youngest ever sailor to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games when in 2004 in China he sailed in the Men’s 470 class together with Carl Evans.

Jez Fanstone, Olympic Programme Manager explains that Peter’s achievement is inspiration for any junior sailor to give Olympic class sailing a go: - “It shows young sailors just where Olympic sailing can lead you, and proves youth and Olympic classes are a great training ground for those aspiring to the professional sailing ranks,” says Fanstone.

“For Peter, this is a great chance to try something else and it’s a great reward following on from his silver medal. He’s been Olympic campaigning for six years now, and during that time he’s gained the skills, and attracted the attention to put him in this exciting position.”

Moving into the 49er skiff, and pairing with Blair Tuke, he campaigned towards London 2012 Burling capturing attention on the Olympic class circuit with back to back silver 49er World Championships medals  in 2011 and 2012 and multiple podium finishes at ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas.  He and Tuke went on to collect the 49er Olympic Silver Medal in August 2012.

Burling will helm the Team Korea AC45 with four crew on board including Troy Tindall, Matt Cornwall, Giles Scott and Andy McLean (standing in for Mark Bulkeley).

About the America’s Cup World Series (americascup.com)

The America’s Cup World Series is a professional circuit that brings America’s Cup-level racing and the America’s Cup experience to top international venues. It is an extreme experience – cutting edge wing-sailed catamarans flying at speeds over 30 miles per hour, and a mix of fleet and match racing to test the abilities of the best sailing teams in the world.

There are two seasons of the AC World Series – the 2011-12 AC World Series concludes on July 1, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island, and the 2012-13 AC World Series stops in San Francisco, Venice and Naples, concluding in May 2013 – prior to the beginning of the 34th America’s Cup events in San Francisco in July 2013. At the end of the each AC World Series circuit, a series champion is crowned based on their cumulative scores from each event.