Sailing

Sailors are passionate about their time on the water – buoyed by a sense of empowerment as the wind fills the sails and the boat glides peacefully through the water. Sailing is a green activity, is wind powered, and is fulfilling for anyone at any age. This is the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming about – to share with family and friends, close to home, or in magnificent cruising grounds around the world. Whether you’re interested in day sailing, cruising, competitive racing, or charter vacations, there is a sailboat for you and a lifetime of sailing adventures ahead.

New Zealand Sailing

New Zealanders’ passion for sailing is revealed by the huge number of craft out on the harbour at weekends and evenings, particularly in summer. Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’ and there are opportunities for both experienced sea-adventurers and beginners to get out on the water. Day trips on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour are available year-round.

Four-to-six berth yachts can be chartered for cruises of several days or weeks, and yachting schools are keen to impart their wisdom to visitors on short courses. Other destinations that offer charter yachts and excellent cruising grounds are the Bay of Islands north of Auckland, and Picton in the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive area of fiords at the head of the South Island. Many idyllic out-of-the-way places are best accessed by boat – whether sail or engine powered – which provides a unique way to explore the country.

Coastal Classic Sailing Race

Auckland City has the highest boat ownership per capita in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Beyond the beaches and bays of the Waitemata Harbour is the immensity of the Hauraki Gulf, where islands of every shape and size are waiting to be discovered. On Anniversary Day, Auckland’s yachts come out to race in New Zealand’s largest regatta. As a visitor, you can source almost any kind of sailing experience. Blast around the harbour on a genuine America’s Cup yacht; take a leisurely luncheon cruise on a sedate motor sailer; or charter a classic schooner and slide up the harbour in style.

Explore our seas, begin sailing today!

To find a sailing club in your area, visit the Yachting New Zealand Club Directory
For more information on how to get into sailing, visit Yachting New Zealand’s ‘Get into Sailing’ page or enrol in one of their ‘Learn to Sail‘ programmes.

To read the latest sailing news online visit Sail-world.com Sailing News

Royal Yachting Association courses for sailing and power craft

Personal Water Craft
A comprehensive course for PWC Users (Jet Skis)

Powerboating
(Runabouts, RIBs, and other outboard-driven craft) Introductory through to advanced courses covering practical boat handling skills.

Sail Cruising
(Keelers and Multihulls) Introductory through to advanced courses to develop sailing competence as crew or skipper in inshore, coastal, and ocean waters.

Motor Cruising
(Launches) Introductory through to advanced courses to develop motor cruising competence as crew or skipper in inshore, coastal, and ocean waters.

Joining your local coastguard is a great way to gain experience and local knowledge.
Coastguard New Zealand

For more information, or to find your nearest Coastguard Boating Education tutor:

• Call freephone: 0800 40 80 90
• Visit the website Coastguard Boating Education

Learn to Sail

Learn to Sail is a national programme developed by Yachting New Zealand. The programme covers the basic skills and is offered in both a Dinghy sailing option and a Keelboat sailing option. While the programme is taught mainly at Yacht Clubs it is increasingly offered by Commercial Sailing Schools.

Learn To Sail Programme – For Dinghies

Course Content and Levels

Learn To Sail Programme – For Keelboats