RS Fevas racing in the SailGP Inspire program - Lyttelton - March 23, 2024 © Justin Mitchell
The SailGP Inspire program gives young sailors the opportunity to compete at the SailGP venue and rub shoulders with some of the top sailors in the world, and get a taste for professional sailing.
The 50 sailor fleet is by invitation from open aplications from sailors throughout New Zealand, the fleet is also balanced on a gender basis. NZ Sailcraft say that the RS Feva is one of the few dinghy classes in NZ where males and females compete on an equal basis.
"No other class attracts this many females - and is all about being fast and fun," Hayden Whitburn says.
The Practice Day was attended by top coaches Sam Mackay (YNZ), Peter Nicholas(former 470 World Champion), skiff sailor and coach Hayden Whitburn, and another top skiff sailor and coach Matt Metson, who provided an afternoon of coaching.
As part of the Sail Inspire program the sailors have tours of the technical base and see up close the F50s used in the SailGP regatta. They also got to sail at a Blokart event on Friday.
The series is a proper championship with overall hounours and for the top female crews, however on the basis of early results, it would seem likely that female crews will dominate the overall event.
Website for the NZ agent for the RS Feva and entire RS range of boats contact NZ Sailcraft: nzsailcraft.co.nz
While the RS Fevas used in the Christchurch event are supplied by the sailors, or chartered from Sea Scout and Club groups, NZ Sailcraft has a good stock still available in Auckland. Contact Hayden Whitburn at NZ Sailcraft.