News

Young 88 2023 Recap & Update on 2024 Plans

Published Tue 02 Jan 2024

Hi all,

Farewell 2023, you were OK and better than your recent predecessors. If the weather could be a bit less extreme / cyclone filled in 2024 then we will be very happy.

This is a quick recap on last year and preview of the upcoming events in2024……

My personal highlight was ripping along under kite at 15knots plus in very confused seas up by Cape Brett around midnight in this year’s Coastal Classic. As we know an 88 going fast is fairly easy to control, its when they stop that the trouble begins!....

2023 Events Links underlined and should include results

January Y88s @ Bay of Islands Sailing Week
February Young 88 Southern Owners Championships and Y88 Auckland Champs
March North Sails Young 88 Southern Championships and Harken Young 88 Nationals
April - June Mount Gay Rum Young 88 1-2-3 Series
July - Sept Y88s @ SSANZ PIC Insurance Brokers Two Handed Triple Series
October Y88s @ Coastal Classic and start of revamped North Sails Young 88 Sprints
November North Sails Young 88 Northern Owners Champs

That is a lot of sailing, to see what else we have been up to check out the news archive on the website www.young88.org.nz/news/.

Congratulations to all those who made the podium in 2023, improved on prior years or just had fun.

2024 Events

2024 is going to be just as busy with the usual balance of club racing, marquee events, shorthanded, fully crewed long and short races. The formula of something for everyone seems to work well and entries remain steady or growing in all our focus events

Here are the highlights for the rest of summer

January 23-26 Y88s @ Bay of Islands Sailing Week

8 x 88s in the class division and one in Island Racing .. (what’s up Jed?.. come join the gang!)
Two windward leewards followed by a race around the various islands…
Club 88 cocktail competition and party Weds night, beach party Thursday …. bring it on!

February 11th Young 88 Auckland Champs

One day regatta run for the first time by Ponsonby Cruising Club with legendary race office Truby calling the shot
Note the date change brought about to manage a clash with a RNZYS event change. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Essential practice for the nationals and great fun for anyone looking for a more chilled regatta

March 2- 3 North Sails Young 88 Southern Champs

The always competitive and fun event will be back in the very picturesque, fun, and hospitable Akaroa

March 16-17 Harken Young 88 Nationals

New club, same great competitive event
We had seventeen firm and three “maybe” expressions of interest when we surveyed the fleet back in July, so we are working on a big fleet
We also have crews from the South Island and West Island keen to charter (let us know if you can help)
Please help save the busy organisers time and stress by getting your entries in sooner rather than later

So, lots on like usual, you can keep track of events via the calendars on the web site, info on the Facebook page and do not forget MySail as a great tool for sourcing and managing crew and events.

Thanks like usual to our hardworking Committee and other volunteers. We could always do with more help so if you are keen to take on a role like fleet captain, event champion, and especially social media and promotion please reach out.

Please contact me or any of the Committee for help or questions and don’t forget to check your lifelines and rudder stock retaining bolt are secure!

See you out there …..

Mike