New Zealand Finn Association Web Site

Subscriptions
The Finn Association Subscription period runs from 1 October to 30 September each year. Therefore the $60 subscription is now due for the 2007/2008 year.

To make it easy you can pay the NZ Finn Association directly via Internet Banking into the following account.

National Bank of New Zealand
06-0457-0111595-00
NZ Finn Association

Please include your details in the reference field and I will send out your membership form and receipt.

For those who would prefer to pay the traditional way I have included a copy of the Membership Form to complete and return with your cheque.

Finn Association Web Site
All updates can be found on the Finn Association Web site. Link is as follows www.finnclass.org.nz. Please submit any articles, reports or pictures so I can include them on the site for everyones enjoyment.

If you haven't seen them already they include reports from Dan Slater during his northern Finn campaign at the following link http://www.finnclass.org.nz/Dans%20Diary.htm plus a series of photos from the Gold Cup in Portugal and the European Champs in Hungary here http://www.finnclass.org.nz/Pictures%20Europe%2007.htm .

What makes the site so interesting are the photos we receive and post there. I'd like to increase the number of photos for this year so if you're organising a regatta please organise for a photographer and send the photos with your report.

C-Tech Masts
C-Tech are in full production with very well priced competitive Finn masts. I've used one for the last 2 years and have won the North Island Champs this year, won the Finn Veterans Champs for the past 2 years and placed 3rd at this years Nationals including one first and 2 second places. Information about the mast can be found on the Finn Association web site here. http://www.finnclass.org.nz/For%20Sale.htm

Gold Cup Melbourne January 2008
A number of us are going to Melbourne for the Gold Cup in January 2008. It's still not too late to go if you're interested. The boats will be shipped in the Yachting New Zealand Container leaving approx 20 December and returning late February. More details can be found on the Australian Finn Association web site at the following link. http://www.finnaustralia.org/index.html

Waiuku Yacht Club Web site
Waiuku Yacht Club have set up a new web site to keep members and visitors informed of whats happening and includes their full schedule for this season. You can find it at the following link www.wyc.org.nz

Links to other Yacht Clubs web sites can be found on the Finn Association Web site here. http://www.finnclass.org.nz/Schedule.htm

March 2007

South Island Third Ranking Regatta 17 and 24 February 2007.
Report from Maurice Duncan on the Third Ranking Regatta in the South Island. Unfortunately numbers were down but sounds like they had fun (swimming!!!!).

Waiuku Autumn Regatta and Finn Veterans Championships 3-4 March 2007
Please find attached the report from the Waiuku Finn Veterans Champs. Key points to note, Dan didn't come (some lame excuse about having to attend his sisters wedding) and I didn't have a bad regatta.

Final 2007 Finn Ranking List
Please find attached the final ranking list for 2007. Final placings were based on the following criteria in the order of importance.
Number of regattas attended (Max 3)
Attendance at the Nationals
Best placing in a regatta
Most recent regatta sailed.
Key point to note. There were 26 Finn sailors who sailed in one or more of the Ranking Regatta's during the season. All we need to to do now is get them all sailing at the same place at the same time and we'll have even better racing.

NZ Finn Association Website
The new Finn website is now up and running. Go and have a look at it here.

www.finnclass.org.nz

This is the new permanent Domain Name and replaces the old one which will be phased out. Please save this new link on your browser.

The intention of this site is to promote our class and to provide information on finn sailing in New Zealand. There is a lot of content to go on yet including a lot more pictures.

Any further suggestions on content would be most appreciated. We plan to create regional sections so each fleet can post information, reports and photos from their region to reinforce the strength of the class around the country.

Just a reminder. you'll note my email address is now secretary@finnclass.org.nz . Can you change your address book to include this email address please.

Gold Cup Melbourne January 2008
Currently have the following names either confirmed or possibles to go to Melbourne.
Dan Slater confirmed
David Hoogenboom confirmed
Jim Turner confirmed
Nik Burfoot possible (resident in Australia)
Gerrit Bearda possible
Justin Hurst possible
Murray Thom possible

If your name isn't there and you're thinking about attending please contact me NOW. Time marches on and there are only 10 months before we'll need to ship boats.

February 2007

North American Mid Winters Regatta.
Attached is the full report from Dan Slater who is currently in Miami for the North American Mid Winters.

Finn Nationals 8-12 February 2007.
Currently there are only 5 confirmed sailors for the Nationals to be held in conjunction with Sail Auckland in Kohimarama 8-12 February. Alan Bilkey has advised he will not be charging the late entry fee for anyone registering between now and the start of the regatta however he needs confirmation of any outstanding entries URGENTLY. Can you please email me on finnsailor@xtra.co.nz and Alan Bilkey on bilkey@ihug.co.nz if you still intend to sail in this regatta ASAP.

AGM
The intention was to hold the AGM in conjunction with the Nationals. As I have received NO communication regarding Agenda items to be discussed and it appears unlikely we will have a quorum I intend to email financial members any items that require discussion or decision and dispense with a formal meeting.

January 2007

Canterbury Champs Charteris Bay YC 2 & 3 Dec 2006
The following is the report from Maurice Duncan on the Canterbury Champs held on 2 & 3 December.

The Canterbury Finn Championships for 2006/07 were sailed at the Charteris Bay Yacht Club on 2-3 December. The format was 3 races back to back each day. The racing was well and tightly run with the tail enders barely having time to catch their breath before the warning signal for the next race. For the first day of racing the wind was from the north east 20 knots gusting 25. While this wind did generate some waves they were smaller than the fleet is used to on other parts of Lyttelton Harbour. Conditions for Sunday’s racing were similar but the wind had dropped to about 15 knots. Line honours were shared equally by Ben Winters, the eventual winner, and Denis Mowbray. Denis’s chances were reduced when the prod of a capsized R-Class went through his sail between races (don’t ask how) and he had to withdraw. Chris Wells, defending champion, was very consistent with seconds for all races to count. Maurice Duncan and Ralph Traber had their own battle close behind the others. It was good to see Matt Arthur back on the water. Mike Pearson was a welcome addition to the fleet having put a new sail on Ben’s old boat, but a collision of his head with the boom (haven’t we all done that) meant a withdrawal for stitches and advice to stop racing for a week or two. CBYC confirmed it legendary hospitality.

NZ Finn Ranking Regatta Series
Results after the Canterbury Champs and including the Waiuku Spring Regatta are attached to this email.

The remaining regattas in the series are as follows;

North Island
Nationals Auckland 9 -12 Feb 2007
Autumn Regatta* Waiuku 3 & 4 Mar 2007 (Changed from previous email)

* Also includes Veterans Champs.

South Island
Naval Point Finn Regatta Naval Point YC To be held over 2 weekends in March 2007 (Exact dates to be advised shortly).

Finns for Sale
NZL234 84 Marten
Boat available either complete with CFM round mast and sail on a beach trolley or as a hull only. Contact me at finnsailor@xtra.co.nz to discuss further.

NZL232 84 Marten
Contact Gerrit Bearda on Gerrit@vanaheim.co.nz for more details.

Finns Sold Recently.
NZL238 has been sold to David Blee in Northland. Welcome David and hope to see you sailing in the near future.

2007 Nationals
I'm just waiting for final confirmation that we will be able to launch and store our boats at Royal Akarana Yacht Club. I approached them prior to Xmas and they were very positive about the prospect and just needed to get final agreement from the committee. Akarana will give us safe and easy launching however will mean we will be on the water a bit longer as it's further from the race area than Kohimarama. Will advise as soon as I receive confirmation.

Finn AGM
As usual we will hold the Finn AGM in conjunction with the Nationals. My current thinking is we'll hold these Friday evening after the first days racing. If you have any specific agenda items you would like to discuss can you send them to me ASAP please. I'll prepare a draft agenda and send this out shortly.

Melbourne Gold Cup 2008
If you are considering sailing in the Melbourne Finn Gold Cup in January/February 2008 please advise me. I need to know approx numbers to start lobbying for sufficient places.

Subscriptions
Anyone who has yet to pay their subscriptions Bank Details are as follows

National Bank of New Zealand
06-0457-0111595-00
NZ Finn Association

Please include your details in the reference field and I will send out your membership form and receipt.