Carl Evans takes out RS:X Tauranga

Carl Evans has done plenty of sailing on Tauranga Harbour in the buildup to the Beijing Olympics, where he was part of New Zealand's youngest-ever sailing combo, but the weekend felt like he was back in the classroom as he continues his education in the relatively new sport of windsurfing.

Evans took out the RS:X North Island open men's title, holding off Tauranga's defending champion Sven Pedersen by the slimmest of margins, with neither sailor recording a result in yesterday afternoon's sixth and final race after breaching the start line early.

Evans, 21, had had three wins and two seconds till then, with Pedersen boasting a two win-three second record. Pedersen went on to dominate the final race but neither yachtie's score counted, meaning there was no need for a countback.

The Takapuna sailor quit the water after Beijing, burned out mentally and financially and without the backing to carry on.

"I would have loved to have kept going in 470 (he went to Beijing with Tauranga's Peter Burling) but I got out for 18 months, mainly because I was a little bit sick of it but also because I couldn't afford to start up another 470 campaign.

"I tried sailing a 470 with a few different people but it didn't work and I didn't have the cash behind me to keep pushing forever. [Body] size was also a bit of an issue - I was too big to keep steering."

Evans dove into an engineering degree and swapped wind for pedal power (taking up mountainbiking) but was lured back onto the water two years ago by a mate who was into windsurfing.

He trained a lot with Olympic champion Tom Ashley leading up to last year's ISAF world championships in Perth but was off the pace in the regatta, finishing just outside the top 70.

"I wouldn't say it's easy, although it's still sailing. I'm well off the level of guys like Tom and JP (Tobin) and Perth showed me I've still got a lot to learn as far as boat handling and speed goes.

"RS:X is a lot more physical and fitness based and tactically windsurfing's a lot different too than the sailing I've come from. A huge part of it is speed - if you don't have that you have no chance and you'll get spat out the back of the fleet at the start."

Evans is just the sixth name on the trophy. Pedersen won last year and Ashley the year before that after the regatta was resurrected by the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club in 2009. Before that it was last contested in '96, when it was won by Barbara Kendall's husband and coach Shayne Bright, with Kendall the winner in '94.

Evans would love to emulate Kendalls' achievements and get to an Olympics. Age is no issue but it's experience that's lacking.

"My big worry right now is whether I started in windsurfing too late. The young guys coming through are incredibly talented and have been windsurfing from a young age, whereas I lack the base skill and I'm playing catchup. I'm still learning and the next year or two will show me what sort of future, if any, I've got on a board."

Tauranga's Bradley Nixon won the RS:X under-19 title, while the youth women's division was taken out by Murrays Bay's Stephanie Corkery. In the Techno grades, Hamish Dunning-Beck won the under-17 boys and Christchurch's Xanthe Bowater the girls, with Finn Croft (Manly) taking the under-15 trophy and Carmen Haybittle (Murrays Bay) the girls.

http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz

RS:X & Techno North Islands 2012 - Tauranga 21‐22 January

RSX/Techno North Islands

A great venue, a friendly welcome, good harbour racing and all the fun of summer at the Mount: what more could you want from a regatta?  What better way to build up for Sail Auckland and the Nationals in February!  There are even some good prizes and trophies, including ‘North Island Champion’ with past names such as B Kendall!  And this is the third Kendall Cup regatta for the season so don’t miss it: enter now!

Why not come a couple of days early and get some training in – you can’t beat a change of location and our afternoon sea breeze is usually pretty reliable.  Get in quick to find some accommodation or let us know if you’d like help.  Call Stuart 07 5741169.’

NOR RSX Techno North Islands 2012

2012 NEW ZEALAND SLALOM CHAMPS - Dunedin

 2nd to 6th February 2012
Otago Harbour, Dunedin, New Zealand

Organized by:
WetClub WaterSports – Mike Dorking
In conjunction with
Dunedin Windsports Association & Windsurfing New Zealand

A New Zealand Windsurfing Association sanctioned event

NOR available here

Windsurfing New Zealand 2011-2012 Calendar Posted

 

www.windsurfingnz.org

Dnick's Friday Report - Going 30+ knots in Speed Creek

 Friday Speed

Speed Creek, Tauranga
Windsurfing: Speed 1:30 pm - 3 pm yesterday

my rating

Wind Direction: W Wind Strength: maxed   using 6.1 - 6.5m sail. Swell Direction: Swell Size: nonexistent Tide: Low - Rising.

CA SL58, warp 6.4, MFC 34 course slalom

A planned low tide session actually worked. Wind was more WSW to start. Rob was on the creek early on a 5.8 x-15 as it was really honking 33-35knots.

By the time Darryl and I hit the water it had back off to under 30.

Good speed runs, if a little short compared to yesterdays airport sesh.

Some nice flat out gybes made life interesting laying it down at 30knts on a flat as channel.

Darryl didn't break any gear today

Craig showed up late as it went back west and he was flying on 6.4, in 35+ knts, clocking 34.9knts max, but Rob had the speed of the sesh with a 35. something, a PB for him....still waiting on the C3 Sting to arrive... 

Mount Coast beach restrictions lifted

Omanu Beach access now all go!

 15 November 2011: 1.30pm

Beach access restrictions between Tay Street and Maketū Spit will be lifted tomorrow morning, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says.

This means the public will now have access to beaches between Mount Maunganui (Mauao) and the Maketū Estuary. However, at this stage, two sections of the beach will remain restricted. The first section is from Harrison’s Cut, going past the Pāpāmoa Surf Lifesaving Club to Alexandra Place. The second section is the Maketū Spit. This is because these areas require further ongoing clean-up.

The restricted areas will be clearly marked with tape and signs.

The National On Scene Commander restricted public access to the beach to allow oil spill response teams, sometimes with large trucks and other heavy machinery, to work unimpeded on the most affected areas of beach.

The restrictions also aimed to minimise the contamination of otherwise clean areas by members of the public walking through and transferring material from heavily oiled areas.

National On Scene Commander Mick Courtnell said there was no longer any operational need, in terms of the use of heavy machinery, or risk of cross-contamination, to restrict public access to the beach.

However, he warned that members of the public should still exercise caution when using the beaches.
The rahui put in place by iwi remains in place.

This prohibits the collection of kaimoana between Bowen Town and Maketū.

“The beaches are not the same as they were before Rena grounded,” Mr Courtnell said.

“There are small amounts of oil buried in the sand, on some of the rocks and in some cases submerged in the water. Oil will continue to resurface with tidal movement and will be most evident after periods of rough or stormy weather.” Sightings of oil should be reported to 0800 OIL SPILL.

Mr Courtnell said the oil spill response team would continue to assess, clean and re-clean the beaches for as long as was needed.

“This may involve sections of the beach being cordoned off at various times – these will be clearly marked and we ask that members of the public are patient as we continue to work through this process,” Mr Courtnell said.

Mr Courtnell said six areas of high recreational use had been identified through consultation with local authorities and beach users. These areas would be targeted for regular clean-ups to give members of the public a higher degree of confidence in using those sections of beach.

The six areas of high use are Pilot Bay, Mount Main Beach, Tay Street, Ōmanu, Pāpāmoa East and Arataki.

“Public health officials have advised us that contact with the weathered oil presents a minor health risk. However, it should not be swallowed. Young children should be closely supervised.”

Maritime NZ

Rena Latest - Volunteering

"Because we've got old oil that is remobilising on the shoreline, we still need lots of hands and bodies to sweep the beaches and pick up these weathered, tarry globs of oil.

Once this is done, the next phase can focus on mechanical recovery,'' he said.

Mr Quinn said while volunteer support had been outstanding, more people were still needed to help clean beaches over the coming days and weeks.

"We appreciate that people have busy lives, and that it's more difficult for people to get away during the working week to give us a hand.

"But if anyone can spare a few hours, either during the week or over the weekend, we'd love to have you come and help us. This is going to be a marathon - not a sprint.''

Mt Maunganui beach down to Tay St would stay open this weekend but other local beaches remained closed as old oil continued to come ashore."

NZ Herald

 

Volunteering information

1. You must be 16 years of age or older and physically fit. You should not be assisting with oil clean up if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
2. You must be willing to work a minimum of a 4-hour shift.
3. If you haven't already registered as a volunteer, please do so online at www.boprc.govt.nz/oilspillvolunteers/
4. You must bring your own pair of gumboots. Volunteers without their own gumboots will not be permitted to clean-up for safety reasons.
5. Do not bring additional equipment, such as your own protective suits, shovels, rakes, sacks and gloves: these will be provided.
6. Bring a small back pack with your own food and water. Clean-up can be physically challenging so you will need to stay well-nourished. The back pack must be comfortable enough to stay on your back at all times.

If you have any experience in bird or animal handling and could help with wildlife recovery please call 0800 333 771.

For any further questions email renavolunteers@gmail.com or phone 0800 645 774.

Thank you for your ongoing support, help and enthusiasm - the response from the community and our volunteers is inspiring.
Pim de Monchy
Volunteer Co-ordinator

BOP Regional Council