Congratulations to Ben Lowe and Kate Gilbert qualifying for NZ's World's Team for the Flying Fifteen's following their great result in the nationals held last week in the Bay of Island's....View more details here

 Auckland Secondary Schools Regatta
 
Congratulations to Glendowie College for taking honours in the Auckland Secondary schools regatta - some great sailing by Arkady Edmonds and Russell Wilson. The win was not without strong competition from some other GBC sailors, Don Harland led a crew from Sacred Heart and George Novis and JJ Marie represented King's College. Well done to all of the sailors who competed.
 
 Auckland Champs
 
The weather threw down a challenge to all sailors last weekend and sailors had to contend with virtually no wind at times on Saturday to winds over 30knots on Sunday, the highest gust of 41 knots was recorded by the navy on Sunday and from what we saw it looked as it hit at the start of race 5 for the Opti's!
 
In the Starling's Russell Wilson and Arkady Edmonds had a solid regatta, steadily improving over the weekend, Russell finishing 9th and Arkady 10th out of a strong fleet of 23.
 
The Optimist fleet had a great learning experience, with a start line of 123 boats in Open the start proved critical, a point well recognised by Craig Keenan who started very strongly and managed a 42nd in his first race. Each race saw a new set of challenges and opportunities to improve and the regatta proved a good benchmark on what will be needed for the Nationals which are now only a little over a month away. Well done to Craig Keenan (114th), Lisa Hartnell (113th), Dom Devine (110th), Henry Haslett (66th) and Brittany Glanfield (only sailed Sat) in the Open and Samantha Glanfield in Green Fleet (only sailed sat).  Thanks to Frankie Lardies for his great coaching.

  First ever Kiwi success at New Caledonia Optimist Nationals.
Patrick Haybittle a member of the NZIODA Optimist Development team has taken out the New Caledonia Optimist Nationals.
Congratulations Patrick, Coach Briar and Team Manager (and proud Dad) Brian.
Check out the full story on Sail-World ...click here

The Optimist Development Team is selected from the top 5 11yr & top 5 12yr olds at the NZ Opti Nationals each year so keep up the training team, you can go places.

From the GBC - Henry Haslett competed finishing in second placein the 11year old divsion  and overall 12th in the regatta

 Murray's Bay Team's Racing

Congratulations to the GBC Opti Team (Lisa Dartnell, James Brown, Dominic Devine, Matt Connolly and Henry Haslett) and thanks to coach Ben Lowe. Narrowly missing the Silver Fleet final the team raced very well at their first up teams event with all sailors pulling off some great moves. Another great learning experience at the GBC.

 Starling Traveller series

Congratulations to Arkady Edmunds and Russell Wilson on their result in Hamilton two weekends ago. Go team GBC - these guys are moving up the laddder - for full results go to www.starling.org.nz.

 North Island Opti Champs 2010
 
What a huge event 200+ boats entered in a stunning location and superbly run, 13 sailors from GBC! Some shifty conditions on day 1 followed by a building breeze on day 2 and then a windy day on day 3 (gusts up to 30kts out on the Open course).

Thanks to those of you who sent through over 140 photos of this great weekend click here to view !

All Green Fleet sailors performed well but particularly James Brown,6th overall in Green Fleet and Lisa Dartnell, 3rd in Girls Green Fleet and 18th overall, Craig Keenan a line honours (17th overall) and a huge step up by all other sailors. Matt Connolly 19th, Nick Reid 37th, Brittany Glanfield 38th, Greg Hunter 42nd, Greta Taine 43rd, Samantha Glanfield 55th, Max Russell (moved up from Rainbow on Day 2) 59th and Isobel Russell also moving up from Rainbow after two firsts to finish a credible 62nd. The Green Fleet training is paying off big time and we have some exciting sailors coming through.
 
In the Open Henry Haslett finished 49th and Dominic Devine 125th, the strong wind on the final day taking its toll but not reducing a great first Open fleet result for Dominic and a lift for Henry overall.

 National Optimist Championships - Easter - Thursday 21st - Monday 25th  2011 April at Wakatere (Devonport)

Congratulations to all GBC Opti Nationals sailors and thanks to coaches Frankie Lardies and George Kool.
 
All sailors achieved some great personal milestones and achieved goals plus more over 5 days of challenging racing at the Opti Nationals held at Wakatere over Easter. From no wind on Thursday, to gusty winds and a decent tidal chop on Friday, to two steady days on Saturday and Sunday and a squally day on Monday it was a perfect mix of conditions to test all the sailors skills.
 
Full results are available on www.optimist.org.nz but special mention must go to Isabelle Russell for 3rd Female sailor in Green Fleet. Also of worthy of mention is Dom Devine who despite a medial ligament strain less than a week before the event, took to the water to give it a go - and the races he managed had him in a highly credible mid fleet placing - great effort Dom. A very special mention must go to Samantha Glanfield as well, who went out of her way during a race to support one of the fellow GBC team members in trouble - effecting her race placing no doubt but showing wonderful care and support - that's what sailing is sometimes all about - well done Samantha a truly wonderful gesture of sportsmanship.
 
To all the parents thank you for the suppoort in setting up the marquee, getting boats organised, fundraising, feeding us and drying all our clothes.