We were very fortunate to have a great family sailing day for the TIWAL NZ Cup, held in the beautiful Mahurangi before another lockdown was announced the same evening.
Eight TIWALS sailed in a gentle breeze around Saddle Island and down to Scotts Landing for a picnic in the park. The wind increased later in the day, giving competitors a chance to stretch out and enjoy a speedy sail back to Sullivans Bay.
The winners of the event were Zane and Anna Gifford. Zane Gifford is an accomplished New Zealand sailor who has won National Championships in several classes including P Class, Young 88s (multiple times), and Elliot 7s.
Second place went to the youngsters of the event, brothers Boaz and Simeon White of Hamilton, and third place to Jocelyn Morgan of Waiheke Island.
John Rusk travelled from Wellington for the event, and although he missed out on the Sunday event, the RNZYS Auckland Harbour Bridge to Bean Rock, due to COVID, he said sailing in beautiful Mahurangi and meeting other TIWAL owners was well worth the long drive.
A few boats missed out on the TIWAL NZ Cup due to changed schedules and COVID lockdowns, but we hope to get another event organised soon for those who missed out.

Yesterday, I taught 18 kids between 8 and 12 years old how to sail.  One kid, Aaron, was the size of a 16 year old, if not bigger.   He sat squashed in an Optimist for a day and it was obvious he was going to hate sailing by the end of the week. 

So I put the TIWAL 2 in my car the following day.  All of a sudden he became focused and alive as blended in with the group. He no longer had to feel bigger, heavier and slower than everyone else.  The group had the benefit of Aaron's equally large personality.  He was shouting and laughing as he grew in confidence and the rest of the group seemed to draw on his energy. 

So now, whenever I teach a group, I know to put a TIWAL in the car! 

Here is an adult's experience of dinghy sailing for the first time: 
About twenty years ago, I decided sailing was not for me. My brother urged me to climb into his little ‘Corsair’ for a sail. I’d finished my Uni degree in Sports Science. I was passionate about craft design, training and coaching. I had rowed surf-boats, paddled surf-racing skis and represented Australia in sprint kayaking. Within less than a minute of climbing down into the Corsair, I remember thinking, “Stuff this! I’m cramped, uncomfortable, tangled in ropes, ducking a boom; and I already have a wet ####! No wonder nobody sails around here!” I was out! Compared to the simplicity and freedom of other water-craft, I thought sailing a dinghy was a nightmare. I would still feel the same today if I hadn’t tried Melinda’s TIWAL Sailing Dinghy. I love sailing today.

​by Robert Dickson BHMS, Sunshine Coast, Australia. 

What makes you feel alive?
As we head into winter months it can be easy to stay on the couch instead of pushing ourselves and our bodies to new limits.
Now more than ever I appreciate the benefits of getting outdoors or going sailing during winter, as I sit here in lockdown, unable to go sailing.
When you are challenged by something, (for sailors it could be a new boat, strong winds, big waves, or a long race, etc); every anxious thought or pent up frustration is suddenly directed towards manoeuvring and handling a boat planing along the water, trying to keep the boat upright and travelling fast.
Or perhaps the surprise of finding a long day of winter sunshine which you can appreciate from a boat in the middle of a harbour or lake.
I have learnt more about a healthy body as I focus on wellness and I have learnt how important Vitamin D, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamins A and C are in keeping the body functioning.
I remember the fantastic feeling I had after being on the water all weekend for a regatta (I had an office job at the time); and I put it down to the Vitamin D. Are we solar-powered, or what?
And the feeling a short sail can give you - an aerobic workout: the core and leg muscles are working constantly to balance yourself as you work to balance the boat. The muscles of the hands and arms work as you work the sail and the ropes, and control the steering.
How are you coping with your lockdown? What attitude will you take forward from this experience? How will you think about the winter ahead as we gaze outside at this beautiful weather?
I will be more grateful for the freedom to get out on the water, no matter what the weather conditions or circumstances.
What about you? How will you maintain your love of life?

www.tiwal.nz   

ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO SAIL?
As a sailing coach for children I come across low water confidence in kids all the time. Often, I have to go right back to basic water confidence. I don't want these kids to become an Olympic sailor like I was, I just want them to have the opportunity to see the ocean as their playground; a place where they can explore, think expansively, grow from challenges, support others, learn how to relax, get strong, get better balance and get fit. 
Some fun ways to do this?
- Games with boats upside down, jumping off boats, jumping from boat to boat
- Standing up on or walking around the edge of boats, making the boat rock around, swimming under a boat. 
- Towing the boat behind another dinghy - get kids to get used to the balance and then stand up and balance 
- Sailing in pairs can give a less confident child a way onto a boat with more support or fun.
- Sailing with an adult can accelerate a child's confidence and learning
The most important thing with teaching someone to sail is that the process is a gentle one. The kids will pick up confidence and concepts at their own pace according to their level of water confidence and coordination. It is very hard to get a child back onto a boat after a bad experience! 
Safety First
Make sure before you put your child in a boat, that he/she can right the boat by themselves after a capsize and they can get back in. 
In a TIWAL Inflatable sailing dinghy, getting back onto the boat after a capsize is easy! And the great thing about the TIWAL.... it does not not fill up with water, eliminating yet another opportunity for panic. 
If a child has lost confidence or got frustrated learning in an Opti, I often put them on the TIWAL with a friend and they are soon enjoying things again. It works a treat!
If you would like more tips on learning to sail please join my newsletter on 
https://mailchi.mp/db2b923047a4/tiwal…

Im a competitive sailor and a coach of people with disabilities, a kids' learn to sail coach, and a race coach. I spend a lot of time doing and thinking about sailing and being on the water. 

Sailors or boaties like me are often labelled for life - we have caught 'the sailing bug', we are the 'old salts', the old sea dogs, and the ocean addicts. 

But the truth is you don't need to be an 'old salt' or even a 'new salt' to be a sailor. In fact you only need a couple of hours out of your time every now and then to enjoy the calmness of going back to nature, back to basics, to float on the sea, river or lake. 

You don't need a road map for sailing, nor do you need all the jargon. You need to know how to read a weather forecast, to read the tide timetable and to know what your wind limit is. 

You can learn sailing, have fun on the water and find secluded places inaccessible to land lovers. All great for the mind, soul and body.
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Yes, there are skills to learn. But if you pick the right sailing conditions and the right boat to learn on, with a bit of effort and guidance you will be sailing!

The TIWAL is a great boat to learn on, and have fun on, and visit places on! 

Do you want to be in Auckland during the Americas Cup in 2021?Here is a video of the course areas.  I hope to provide more insights as we go on. 

The organising yacht club is the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Westhaven Marina, and most viewing boats will be leaving from Westhaven or the Viaduct, located on the south side of the Harbour Bridge.  

For easy access to Westhaven Marina and the Viaduct choose accommodation around the Viaduct, Wynyard Quarter, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay or Ponsonby.  Devonport (North Shore) is one of the prime onshore viewing spots for courses B and C and there are regular ferries to the city from here. 

Course E is near Waiheke Island - a wine drinkers paradise, and only a 40minute ferry ride from Auckland!!! 

Some dates for your diary:
TBC. AC Challenger Series 
25th-27th February, 2021  Superyacht Regatta, Auckland
28th February  2021 Dinghy Bridge to Bean Race (including TIWAL) Auckland
FEB/March TBC TIWAL Cup Auckland 
1st - 6th March, 2021  J Class Yacht Fleet, Auckland 
6th/7th March, 2021  - the Americas Cup starts
21st March, 2021 - Americas Cup finishes