News

The Y88 Plan for Mad March

We are thinking of all those affected by the extreme weather and crossing fingers for a late summer to dry out and allow us to deliver some light relief in the form of March's full plan of fun sailing events at both ends of the country ...... We kicked off last Saturday with a weighing and measuring session ...

Final Reminder. 8Y8 Auckland Champs Update - Sunday Feb 26th

The forecast for next Sunday is perfect, ie sunny 10-15kts from SW. This compact one-day event makes for great practice for those doing The Harken Nationals and is a more chilled out event for those who are not. but wait there's more .... the entry fee is only $75 per boat. Grab the crew, additional family & friends and get your entry in before midnight this Weds

2023 Bay Week - Sailor Moon Wins in Challenging Conditions

It was AP over A for the last day of Bay of Islands Sailing Week. The first time in its 20 year history that a day has been lost to too much wind. Congrats to Jacko Van Deventer and co on Sailor Moon for taking the 88 win ahead of Paul McWilliams on War Machine and new 88 skipper Drew Belk 3rd on line and 1st handicap on Slipstream.

Merry 88 Christmas and Auckland Regatta Change Update

Hi all, Hopefully work done, shopping finished, and boat packed ready for a long hot summer of cruising. Don't forget to do you pre-holiday service and safety checks, make sure the tiller head bolt is tight, lifeline lashings secure and stanchions not cracked around the elbow at the bottom. failure of any one of those things is embarrassing at best! 2022 was another good year for practicing resilience skills! 2023 does not look like a moderate breeze broad reach either but we have plans ....

North Sails Owners Champs - The Last Word Pre Racing

The rain dance did the trick and the weather looks like it will play ball tomorrow for what is a very competitive fleet and a sign of good things as we build post covid and into the Nationals .......

2022 SSANZ Two Handed Triple Series - Its a Wrap!

Another excellent SSANZ Series was topped off with a Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand "do" ... Last night was the 2022 PIC Insurance Brokers Triple Series Prize Giving ....... social, relaxed fun and funny. We had our own fleet like usual in the RAILBLAZA division.

Two Handed Regatta: Drifty McDriftface wins the day of Mount Gay Young 88 Racing

The annual Mount Gay Rum Young 88 1-2-3 Series hosted by the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club might sound like a mouthful, but it’s an awesome wee event packed up nicely over three Sundays during the off-season here in Auckland, New Zealand. Actually… That’s not 100% correct – technically there is no “off-season” in Auckland – we pretty much sail all year round, regardless of the weather.

Thurston Spies Another Win at the 2022 North Sails Young 88 Southern Champs

The North Sails Young 88 Southern Champs were held last weekend in the spectacular Akaroa Harbour completing the big two weeks of Young 88 racing. A solid 13 boat fleet came together to battle it out over the two-day regatta in conditions ranging from light airs and sunshine, through to 25 -30+ knots and less than 100 meters visibility. The event was a true test of woman, man, and machine.

Lomas Wins Again at the 2022 Harken Young 88 Nationals

Last weekend’s Harken Young 88 Nationals ducked, tacked and gybed to avoid infringing against Covid and its tricky rules. A typically varied and competitive fleet assembled with strong representation from the Americas Cup Alumni on Dean Barker’s Danger Zone, and Jonny Bell’s Undercover, the RNZYS Youth Training Program on Skitzo, the seasoned class stalwarts and new owners getting “the nats initiation”.

88 Update: Events, Omicron & Red Traffic Light Settings

We hope you are doing OK in these strange times. Today's news re the move back to the red traffic light setting is not what we wanted to hear but also hardly a surprise. The timing is not great either given that some of our marquee events occur in the next two months.  The Young 88 Association Committee has had quick catch up and agreed that given sailing is still permitted under red light settings, .....