Sailing venue selected for World Masters Games

The Torbay Sailing Club on Auckland’s North Shore has been announced as the host competition venue for sailing at the World Masters Games 2017 in New Zealand.

The host Club for sailing was revealed as part of a wider announcement from World Masters Games 2017 naming 45 competition venues which will provide the stage for 28 sports included in the programme.

The Laser class and the Weta class have been confirmed as sailing events for the massive event expected to attract up to 25,000 across all sports, and Yachting New Zealand’s Chief Executive, David Abercrombie says that Torbay Sailing Club will make a great host Club.

“The Torbay Sailing Club is a brilliant place for the World Masters Games sailing to be based and we’re delighted,” says Abercrombie. “The Club has proven capability in delivering fantastic large scale events including the hugely popular Sir Peter Blake Regatta held annually.”

Abercrombie said confirmation of the competition venue was one of the key pieces in the planning puzzle and a major factor in attracting athletes to the Games from overseas.

“We will work closely with the World Masters Games 2017 Organising Committee and Torbay Sailing Club during the next 30 months to ensure the sailing programme is delivered to the highest standard, as we know it will be,” he added.

Well known New Zealand sailor Mark Orams has been appointed as Sailing Ambassador for the World Masters Games 2017, and is Vice Patron of the Torbay Sailing Club.

Orams comments, “The Torbay Sailing Club is delighted to be hosting the sailing event for the World Masters Games 2017.”

“We are a typical Kiwi club, with local families volunteering their time to create opportunities for people to participate in the sport we love, so to be awarded the hosting for this major event is a huge thrill for us. I know we will welcome masters’ sailors and their families from around the world and will share, with pride, our beautiful little Waiake beach and the fabulous sailing waters we are blessed with”

Orams adds, “The sailing waters off Torbay in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park are some of the best in the world. I know that many master’s sailors from around the world have had Auckland, the “city of sails”, on their bucket list for many years.”

“The World Masters Games will be an exciting prospect for them to enjoy sailing in this world renowned sailing location.”

There is no fleet upper limit, so the format for racing will be decided further down the track once there is an idea of numbers. The minimum age limit to compete in both the Laser and Weta fleets is 35.

More about the World Masters Games 2017

The World Masters Games 2017 Organising Committee released the footprint for the Games that has 28 sports within its official programme. It will be the largest event New Zealand will host in the next decade.

Chief Executive of World Masters Games 2017 Jennah Wootten said 25,000 athletes and 10,000 supporters were likely to converge on Auckland for the event. Selection of competition venues was paramount to delivering a world-class sporting event and as such, athlete experience had been put in the centre of the selection process.

Ms Wootten said selection of the 28 sports and 45 competition venues required to deliver World Masters Games 2017 had been a major priority in 2014.

“Roughly half our competitors will be international visitors, and quarter will come from outside of Auckland. Many visitors choose to stay near their sporting location however we still need to ensure it is simple for them to travel around Auckland, and to get to the Games entertainment hub.”

“We have selected venues that can cater to the size and scale of competition and showcase our city at its best. We are thrilled that all points of Auckland will host competition and that athletes will experience some of the city’s finest scenery and hospitality across North, South, East, West and Central Auckland,” she said.

Source: Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting New Zealand Communications Manager