Sail-World New Zealand: 28 February 2011

Sail-World New Zealand: 28 February 2011

Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand newsletter for 28 February 2011

We have a couple of updates from the Christchurch Earthquake in this edition from a sailing perspective, and also carry details of how those who are able, can donate money to the various funds which have been set up.

While insurance will cover some of the damage, the injury to people lives and incomes is far greater and often less tangible, as they just try and make do with the hand they have been dealt.

As we noted in the latest story on the Christchurch Earthquake we, at Sail-World, are more than happy to use our international network and resources to generate funds and whatever else is required to help sailors especially to get back on their feet. Contact details are in this edition of Sail-World, please don't hesitate to ask.

For those outside the Christchurch area, how about staging regattas, marathons and similar events as fundraisers for the people affected by the Earthquake, while we are still in the peak of the sailing season - rather than waiting until later when the opportunities for fundraising are not so great?

Again if you would like publicity for these events - or give exposure for sponsors and supporters, please do not hesitate to contact us at Sail-World - we're here to help.

Christchurch Earthquake - 22 February 2011

The Two man Round North Island Race has all but finished Leg 2 in Wellington. There were 15 withdrawals, including two dismastings. We have the reports from Short Handed Sailing Association in this edition.

In Wellington the Musto Cup has concluded - which also doubled as a selection trial for the NZL Sailing Team Womens Match Racing team and Match Race Germany, part of the WMRT. We are carrying reports on this event in today's edition.

On the Waitemata, the AC45 stretched her legs again, after suffering a shredded wingsail following a low-speed capsize on the Hauraki Gulf a week ago today. It's a tremendous effort on the part of the Oracle Racing build team to have the wingsail repaired and operative in just five days, and the sailing with Artemis Racing continued on Saturday. We have a report and images in this edition.

Auckland (NZL) - 34th America's Cup - AC45 sea trials - Artemis Racing testing 26 February Ivor Wilkins/www.americascup.com

Internationally, Emirates Team New Zealand have recovered well from a bad first day of the Extreme 40 series in Muscat, Oman. We have daily reports in this edition, and some images - mostly from the excellent Sander van der Borsch who is attached as a photographer to the Artemis Racing team from Sweden.

We another in our series The Freo Files - this is a longer one - the dramatic race between White Crusader (GBR) and KZ-7 (NZL) and the final media conference where Harold Cudmore gives his views on the British fortunes in the regatta. There's a second story on Erle Willams, who was a watch captain aboard a Whitbread winner, Flyer, at the age of just 22years old. Erle is one of the hard men of New Zealand sailing and here he tells PJ Montgomery how the New Zealanders went from not having a 12 metre, to being a finalist in the Louis Vuitton Cup in just 12 months.

Chartwork plotter - available from Coastguard Boating Education Coastguard Boating Education

Coastguard Boating Education have details of how to purchase a handy plotter is ideal for Chartwork both on the boat and in the classroom. It's durable, flexible and is a handy A4 size – making it easy to carry, store and use. The plotter can be marked with the local magnetic variation, making plotting and calculating courses and bearings quick and easy – completely removing the need for mathematical calculation. Click here for more details and on Coastguard Boating Education's chartwork courses.

Thanks to our contributors for their help and input, we're here to help sailing, and help those who wish to help themselves. A special thanks to those who have contributed to this edition.

And once again our thoughts go out to the people of Christchurch.

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