Launched just a year go by Zoe Hawkins (then Wilde) and a tiny team of sailing enthusiasts, the Crew.org.nz exercise is proving hugely successful. The initial aim was to find a common meeting ground for sailors seeking crew and people wanting to get on the water.
It has grown into
a website that is visited by thousands every month and is the hub of information about New Zealand yachting.
The site has just been redesigned and includes on-line forums where people meet, debate, find crew and buy and sell stuff.
There's also a Racetrack section that ranks 1000 sailboats and winter race clinics, the next ones covering performance trim and coastal racing. It's all on www.crew.org.nz.
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Boating association appoints new secretary
After six years as sailing administrator at Royal Akarana Yacht Club, Sue Jenness has been appointed secretary of the Auckland Yacht and Boating Association.
She replaces Richard Brown, who has taken over a new role with Yachting New Zealand after six years with AYBA, the umbrella group for a wide range of special interests and activities on behalf of the Auckland aquatic community.
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Nautor Swan lands at first United States base
Nautor Swan, the Finland-based luxury sailboat manufacturer, has established its first sales base in the United States, at Newport, Rhode Island.
There are more than 600 Swans sailing in American waters and the company expects the number will grow substantially as the new base complements the company's West Coast agencies in Seattle and San Francisco.
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Water-watch
The winter racing programme continues this weekend with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron fleets in action today.
Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and the Richmond Yacht Club will be racing tomorrow.
Organisations planning events on or in the Waitemata or Manukau Harbours should register in advance with the Auckland Regional Council Customer Service Centre on (09) 366 2000.
The 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.
