Milford to host inaugural Matt Mitchell Memorial for Zephyrs
Milford Cruising Club will host the inaugural PredictWind Matt Mitchell Memorial for Zephyrs alongside the Sunburst North Island Regatta from 20 to 22 November 2026.
Photo Credit: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail DieWhat else do you do while waiting for the front to come through?

Visibility isn’t great!

I mean. The weather isn’t great! Is it legal to race with an umbrella?

Briefing was at 0930 and we were advised that racing would be delayed until about 1230 as a front was coming through. No one complained about that decision!

The day ended with a visit to the local Chinese restaurant. Thank goodness the food came out quickly because we were starting to get quote hangry! The plan in the morning is to head down to Lake Taupo Yacht Club early in the morning to make sure we are all ready to go. Briefing is at 0930 with the first warning at 1055.
Yeah nah. The only reason to celebrate sailing in the rain, is because it will hide your tears. Nice storm front rolling in!

So I'm talking to Brian Peet - what's the weather going to do for this regatta “it's gonna be windy!” “No, it's not windy” We really don't have any idea what's going to happen. I can see that it's raining though out there there yes it looks like moisture in the air but keep your fingers crossed. But I don’t know why.

So it turns out that my halyard was polyester instead of spectra!!! Can you believe it!! Don’t worry, super coach Brian Peet is to the rescue. Hang on… didn’t he fit the halyard when I picked up the mast…?

The racing area on Lake Taupo right in front of the club. Looks lush.

After a bit of a confused convoy, We made it to Taupo! The drive was broken up into three stages with the plan of getting four zephyrs in a row along the motorway. Well out coordination is as good as our roll tacks, and that didn’t happen, but we are here! Rego in 2 hours.

Getting road trip ready! Brand new cover thanks to Dan Bush. Bring on the motorway to Lake Taupo Yacht Club! Departure time from Auckland, approximately 0915 Friday morning.

Milford Cruising Club will host the inaugural PredictWind Matt Mitchell Memorial for Zephyrs alongside the Sunburst North Island Regatta from 20 to 22 November 2026.
The Zephyr fleet has landed at Lake Taupo for the North Island Championship. Racing starts Saturday, and the forecast is anyone's guess.
Everyone is telling me I should practise capsizing. In my opinion, that’s like practising how to die. I’m not ready for it, and I certainly don’t want to practise it!
The Zephyr fleet's Wednesday sessions at Murrays Bay come with a post-sail ritual at the Cinnamon Club. I turned up to see if the curry lives up to the reputation, and with the North Islands at Taupo only days away.
It’s taken me a while to put fingertips to keyboard and write about the latest outing for Julie and me in the wonderful world of Zephyr sailing. Firstly, because my fingertips have only just recovered. Secondly, because I’m slightly embarrassed.
Have you ever found yourself sailing upwind while running a scientific equation through your mind, analysing lift, righting moment, velocity, and the water molecules circling your centreboard?
Since Brian worked his magic on Julie’s rig, my upwind speed and height have become pretty exceptional. Downwind, however, I’m dragging a bucket wrapped in seaweed, attached to a concrete block, connected to an anchor that is firmly embedded in the harbour floor.
I’ve learnt that my mental health is determined by how high I can point a Zephyr upwind during a club race. Do I have issues? Of yes, but those issues are slowly being worked out and soon I won’t be able to blame the boat!
In the bar after racing, everybody agrees. You know when you really love something, but it just doesn’t seem to love you back? That’s sailing and me at the moment.
Forget your lunch? Fine. Lose a glove? Annoying, but survivable. Realise you haven’t been to the toilet before putting your wetsuit on? Well… That’s just a girl sailor thing that you learn to control. Kind of… Completely change the rig because the bloke who keeps winning has his set up differently? Absolutely not.
There are moments in life where you should probably keep your mouth shut. Standing in front of a camera at the end of the Zephyr Nationals was apparently not one of those moments. What followed was a wooden boat named Julie, an incredible group of enablers, and a very uncomfortable date with a start line.
Crossing Cook Strait in Zephyrs With Mike and Finn Drummond
It was Rod Dawson’s year to take the cake, snagging the win over the 2024 National Champion Mark Orams, and 2025 National Champion Scott Leith.
Breeze, snorkels and grannies – the best way to describe Day 3 of the 70th Zephyr Nationals at Howick Sailing Club.
There are three main reasons on why we love the Zephyr class here in New Zealand. Oh, and there were three races to open the 70th Nationals at Howick Sailing Club!
The breeze was blowing too hard, the sea state was a mess, so the fleet were held on shore for the opening day of the 70th Nationals.
And by sizzle, we mean snags on the barbie post racing, when the fleet banters over cold beers and painkillers! Bring on the 70th Zephyr National Championships, hosted by the team at Howick Sailing Club!
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