LEADERBRAND Wainui Surf Lifesaving Club is launching a “public subscription” to raise funds for a new $10,000 surf canoe and to help meet costs associated with maintaining its key rescue craft – the IRBs.
The club needs to replace a canoe damaged beyond repair during last month’s national championships in Gisborne and also ensure its IRBs are kept in top order.
“Wainui is a very challenging beach at times and the IRBs we run cost thousands of dollars a season to operate effectively,” said appeal organiser Murray Robertson.
“Given the role IRBs play in keeping Wainui Beach safe for swimmers…Â Details
It’s hell for Telefónica Blue today as they see their triple-figure lead whittled down to a miserable 30nm, but it’s heaven for the chasing pack who are still romping along and enjoying the sailing, Caribbean style.
But, the time will come when they too sail into the lighter conditions that Telefónica Blue is currently experiencing.
“We have been on the receiving end now for roughly 36 hours, losing mile after mile, which is part of the game. I don’t think it will stop for at least another 20 hours, as then, finally, the others will hit the wall as well,†explained the blue boat’s skipper, Bouwe Bekking.
Telefónica Blue is now on the same latitude as the Caribbean Island of St Martin, and ‘Caribbean sailing’ is what today is all about.
“No more goggles, helmets and full foul weather gear, just Caribbean style shorts and t-shirts,†says Wouter Verbraak, Delta Lloyd’s navigator. “Add a barbeque on the back, a nice chilled bottle of white wine and some fresh yellow fin tuna and we could be cruising along just nicely,†he says… DetailsÂ
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The ‘top guns’ among Australia’s offshore racers return to Newcastle on the weekend of May 2 and 3 for the fifth round of the Nautilus Marine Offshore Superboat Championships.
Organisers describe the Newcastle race as ‘unique’ in that it involves racing on both placid harbour conditions and the open ocean, where crews may encounter anything from a nasty chop to mountainous seas.
The Newcastle round offers excellent viewing for spectators, with the 220km/hr-plus boats racing around buoy turns inside the harbour before charging back out to sea on each lap of the 160 kilometre (approx) race.
In Class 1, series leader, the V-12 Lamborghini-powered ‘Maritimo’ will be out to fend off the challenge from … Details & Pictures