[BWR]

Can anyone give me much info. on Takapuna Boat Club in NZ? Just found out I-14 worlds will be moved up the beach to Takapuna, from another club it was originally sch. with. Supposed to be sailed on or near the AC courses I believe, sch. for Feb. '05. Any good resources, recommendations, re: the sailing area and the surronding town? Can they handle 100 14s, and the parties that go along with it? Where would cool places be to stay in that area for easy access to boats and local eats/drinks, I mean Drinks/eats. Thanks

[KiwiFlyer]

BWR, on Jan 10 2004, 02:16 AM, said:

Can anyone give me much info. on Takapuna Boat Club in NZ?  Just found out I-14 worlds will be moved up the beach to Takapuna, from another club it was originally sch. with.  Supposed to be sailed on or near the AC courses I believe, sch. for Feb. '05.  Any good resources, recommendations, re: the sailing area and the surronding town?  Can they handle 100 14s, and the parties that go along with it?  Where would cool places be to stay in that area for easy access to boats and local eats/drinks, I mean Drinks/eats.  Thanks

NZ used to run all it's Olympicsail and Olympic Trial regattas there - good sailing and a big beach - plenty of room.

Takapuna shops are 50metres away - heaps of cafes, a small mall and a good chandlery all within a km. Chandlery - boatbits.co.nz

Yes the waters are just to the south of the AC course but the conditions will be very similar - prevailing wind is SW, off shore with some tide running. The SW chop might be smaller than the AC's but you get the drift. You wil get shifts in all conditions - the NE onshore is lumpy and maybe the steadiest.

There is a brand new clubhouse and a large grassy park- should be plenty of room (the local residents have been a bit of a pain in the past in terms of sharing their park with sailors but hopefully that won't be an issue). Getting on to the beach used to be a bit of a hassles (there is a small sea wall) but hopefully there will be some new ramps (I haven't seen the new club).

There is also a big car park and launching ramp nearby - see the webcam shot below. Ajoins the beach.

You'll get plenty of wind.

Here is the local forecast. http://www.metservic...ne_auckland.asp

Here is the local web/surf cam. http://www.windsurf....am_takapuna.asp (this camera looks south towards the city - the beach is to the right and the course to the left!)

For accomodation, ask a local! Try to get something on the North Shore - traffic is a nightmare. Also Grant Bourke is a local with some info on his site http://www.flowsolut...o.nz/page2.html

Good luck!

kf

[BWR]

Thanks for the info. Have known Grant since he came to SF for '97 worlds, he is coordinating this regatta. Can't wait to come and see NZ, wish it were this Feb. rather than a yr. away.

[Nodrog]

Takapuna beach this morning, looking north.

the yacht club is hidden behind the trees in the middle of the shot. The boat ramp / car park shown on the windsurf web cam is on the right.

Think the laser may be going up for sale, anyone here regular I14 sailors in Auckland? - Do you sail with the skiffs from Oraki?

[Kiwi Spy]

Takapuna, in a sea breeze (NE) would be one of the top places in the world for dinghy sailing. You can either launch off the beach, or there is a concrete ramp (normally used by powerboats) which can be acquired for sailing. The concrete ramp forms a natural breakwater so in that corner there is pretty well all weather launching, and if it is too rough to launch from there it is definitely too rough to sail.

The club has a new three level clubhouse, which is a very high standard facility. It is located amongst some of the highest priced real estate in NZ. Takapuna Beach is an OK surfing spot (at the southern end) and is about a mile long of gently sloping white sand.

TBC has hosted more dinghy world championships than any other club in NZ (and probably more than the rest combined) including Laser Worlds and Finn Gold Cup. The Lasers were about a 100 boat fleet in the main event and 120 boats in the Laser Radial fleet which was sailed at the same time. There was no shortage of space for both fleets.

Behind the club is one of the best "strips" in NZ of bars, cafes and restaurants (better than the Viaduct Basin which is very expensive). There is a good shopping centre and mall again with and easy walk of the club.

The local council is very pro-sailing events. The President of the Club is a former POW Trophy winner. The women are stunning - it always takes twice as long to rig at Takapuna as anywhere else.

What more could you want?

The only downside is the accomodation which is quite hard to find (there is one hotel - the Spencer on Byron) and motels in Takapuna and Milford. You probably need a car. There is a camping ground - so caravans or tents are quite a good option, given the facilties in the club, as well as those in the club and you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner up the road for reasonable prices.


KS

[BWR]

Now you had to go and tell me all that, and just make me more pissed that I don't get to go for a yr.! THANKS A LOT KS!

[Nodrog]

the beach- still tying to post pics

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[Kiwi Spy]

One thing I forgot ...

There are very unofficial nude bathing beaches at either end of Takapuna. The northern one (Thorne's Bay) is mostly topless women. The southern one (St Leonard's) is gay and gets hassled by the cops and other officials.

Thorne's Bay is closest to the launching area, and of course merits a compulsory sail past on the way to the racing area.

A real bitch of a venue!


KS

[Jono]

For accomodation some of the yottie motels around Westhaven are quite close. You are against the traffic in the morning, and by the time you get out of the bar in the evening traffic has dialed down. Say a 10 min drive.
KF has all the other good goss. He forgot to mention that if it has been raining the sewer gets into the stormwater and the beach gets a bit unsafe - for NZ standards. From A+ to B- We aren't perfect down here but not far from it.

[BWR]

Kiwi Spy, on Jan 14 2004, 08:57 AM, said:

One thing I forgot ...

There are very unofficial nude bathing beaches at either end of Takapuna. The northern one (Thorne's Bay) is mostly topless women. The southern one (St Leonard's) is gay and gets hassled by the cops and other officials.

Thorne's Bay is closest to the launching area, and of course merits a compulsory sail past on the way to the racing area.

A real bitch of a venue!


KS

I'll be happy to sail by the north end, We'll send Pete M to check in the other direction