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The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has taken delivery of 10 Elliott 7s for the Mastercard Youth Training Programme – and the old fleet has gone to Buckland’s Beach Yacht Club (BBYC).
Gifted by Emirates Team New Zealand to support the programme that has successfully created world class athletes, including some who are now part of Emirates Team New Zealand, the new fleet of Elliott 7s have arrived at their new berths where the next generation of elite athletes will carve their yachting future.
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand announced to RNZYS members that the new fleet will once again deliver opportunities to young sailors keen to embark on a world of professional sailing.
“We are especially proud and excited about the launch of the new fleet of Elliot 7’s,” explained Dalton.
“As an organisation, our core objective is always firmly focused on one thing – winning the America’s Cup for New Zealand.
“However, it is always vitally important to continue looking beyond that objective – to the future and ensuring the pipeline of top level Kiwi sailing talent is full.
“So investing in the new fleet is an investment in New Zealand’s future sailing talent through the world class RNZYS Youth Training Programme.”
The new fleet, fitted out with brand new North Sails and the latest in high performance technology, will not only be utilised for the Mastercard Youth Training Program and the Musto Performance Programme, but also for world class international and local match racing events.
The fleet will also race on Tuesday evenings as part of the ongoing E7 series, and the support the RNZYS’s ongoing work to support schools and youth within the community.
They were commissioned by Greg Elliott and built under supervision at MConaghy Boats in China and were fitted out at Yachting Development with the support of past commodore, Ian Cook and some of the Emirates Team New Zealand shore crew.
RNZYS vice commodore and chair of sailing, Gillian Williams was part of the delivery crew who sailed the old fleet to BBYC on February 9.
“The fleet has done us proud and has produced world class sailors who have gone on to achieve great success around the world and we are excited to now have BBYC take on the boats, so they can enhance on their development programmes,” said Williams.
“It was time for RNZYS to upgrade with more international sailing and match racing events coming to the shores of the Waitemata Harbour.
“Now there will be 20 one-design Elliott 7s in Auckland, which means even more opportunities for sailors, and interclub regattas. It’s an exciting time,” said Williams.
Emirates Team New Zealand, who represent RNZYS, has the America’s Cup on display for members and visitors to admire.
The America’s Cup is the oldest sporting trophy in the world, and have claimed the Auld Mug four times – 1995, 2000, 2017 and most recently in 2021.
Their goal is to successfully defend the America’s Cup for an unprecedented 3rd time in a row in Barcelona in October this year.
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