Royal Akarana Press Release 15/03/2025
As the Doyle Sails Gold Cup series draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on a fantastic season. Spanning five thrilling races from September 2024 to February 2025, the series brought together over 30 boats from across the region, a truly encouraging sign for the future of keelboat sailing.
The series kicked off with the Spring Regatta, hosted by the Richmond Yacht Club, before moving on to the Roy McDell Memorial, organised by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Our very own Bean Rock Trophy, held by the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, then welcomed competitors before the Percy Jones Memorial Race at Buckland Beach Yacht Club. The season wrapped up with the Balokovic Cup, once again hosted by Royal Akarana Yacht Club, marking the perfect finale to an action-packed competition.
The Doyle Sails Gold Cup series was marked by thrilling finishes and tight competition across all divisions. In the PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) category, Kaizen, skippered by Simon Manning, emerged victorious, clinching the title after a tie on points with Alegre, helmed by Vaughn Clark. The result came down to countback, with Kaizen just edging ahead for the win. Equilibrium, helmed by Graham Matthews, claimed the overall Line Honours, and Hooters skippered by Craig Haslip took out the multihull division rounding off a season of outstanding performances.
The excitement didn’t end with the racing; the prizegiving and discussion evening held last night provided a wonderful opportunity for the sailing community to come together and celebrate the season that was. Over 55 people attended the event, marking a successful conclusion to the series and sharing their insights on the future of keelboat sailing. The evening’s discussions were energizing, and it was inspiring to see such a passionate and engaged group eager to help shape the future of our sport.
Marc Mulcare shared insights into the PHRF system, highlighting a 10% increase in certificates this year and explaining how good handicapping fosters competitive racing. Cris Brodie discussed changes to Cat 1 offshore safety requirements and was joined by Raynor Haigh, who outlined Yachting New Zealand’s efforts to communicate lessons from recent racing incidents.
A panel discussion with representatives from RNZYS, Richmond, RAYC, and SSANZ explored several key topics:
- Racing Calendar: The need for clubs to coordinate and avoid clashes.
- Communication:Streamlining race information to make it easier for sailors to stay informed.
- Participation: Ideas for encouraging more entries, including a potential combined club race in November.
- Cost Barriers: Addressing the high costs, particularly insurance, as a barrier to entry.
As we look ahead, the feedback and enthusiasm gathered from the event will play a crucial role in refining the series for the coming seasons. The dedication and support shown by all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors have made this year’s Doyle Sails Gold Cup an unforgettable one, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.
A massive thank you to our sponsor Doyle Sails for their unwavering support of the event and their true passion for helping us to build and inspire the Auckland Keelboat scene, we couldn’t do it without their incredible love of our sport. The 2024-2025 season may be over, but the momentum it has created will undoubtedly continue to carry the spirit of keelboat sailing forward.
See you on the water in the next season!