Safe sailing for the next Micah Wilkinson is Ngā Roto Sailing Club’s dream for three new yachts.
Nga Roto Sailing Club’s new boats
Cambridge born Wilkinson is a club member – and he brought home a bronze medal form the Olympics
His club has bought three Elliott 5.9 trailer yachts from Port Chalmers Yacht Club in Dunedin to ensure it can safely run learn to sail sessions for adults and youth all year-round.
“Over the past few years Ngā Roto has seen the presence of potentially harmful algae on the lake during the warmer months,” said commodore George van Boven.
“This has seen health warnings put in place which means we are unable to run sailing programmes in smaller boats such as optimists and lasers, where there is a risk of capsizing. Investing in these Elliott 5.9s means that we can mitigate against this risk and sail regardless of the status of the lake. We can run learn to sail classes, with an experienced instructor able to sail the boat with the help of a learner crew, both adults and kids.”
Adam Mark
The new fleet will also enable the club to run social events such as business house racing.
“We’re hopeful that this will ensure the ongoing success of the club and hopefully we’ll see the next Micah Wilkinson out and sailing on the lake soon,” van Boven said.
The club will host an open day on August 24, and visitors will have a chance to sail.
Lake Ngā Roto is the training ground for a Te Awamutu College student with Olympic dreams.
Adam Mark, who lives in the shadow of Mt Pirongia, is one of five sailors selected to represent Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club in the inaugural Toyota Kiwi Cup regatta hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron from September 30 until October 4.
The Year 10 pupil’s team is one of 10 racing in the Emirates Team New Zealand Elliott 7 fleet on the Waitemata Harbour. The event, organised to promote this year’s America’s Cup, includes three days of training and two days of competition.
“I am really hopeful for the team, we really have a good chance,” Adam said.
Adam, 15, learned to sail with Ngā Roto Sailing Club after seeing an advert in the Pirongia School newsletter in 2021. Since then, he has learned to sail an Optimist, Skiff, Starling and Laser sailboat and competed in regattas against Olympians and world champions.
He joined Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club last year to and travels to Tauranga every second week with his father Glenn – but continues to train once a week on Lake Ngā Roto.
Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson
