Every first weekend of December, Waiake Beach on Auckland’s North Shore becomes the epicentre of youth sailing in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta, hosted by Torbay Sailing Club, has grown into the largest mixed centreboard youth regatta below the equator, and 2026 marks its 24th edition, set for 5–6 December.

Last term, a group of students from Mangere College including myself had the exciting opportunity to take part in a five-day sailing trip with New Zealand Sailing Trust.

This week I want to highlight the great work Blue Light is doing across Waipā.

"Today is particularly special. To be here with Steinlager 2, the boat that Sir Peter Blake and his crew sailed to one of the most extraordinary clean sweeps in the history of our race, is a reminder of just how deeply our stories run together – over 50 years of iconic New Zealanders leading the way in designing, building and racing legendary boats around the world."

On Wednesday 18 March, twenty‑two students and two staff members stepped aboard Lion New Zealand for a three‑day sailing adventure that pushed them beyond their comfort zones and into a world of teamwork, resilience, and brotherhood.

Eighteen young New Zealanders brave Hauraki Gulf waters in a five-day leadership challenge aboard an 80- foot superyacht.

Within moments, the boat accelerated and lifted onto the foils. The sensation is extraordinary -suddenly you’re flying, skimming above the water with a smoothness that feels worlds apart from the chase boat. You quickly lose any real sense of speed, despite hitting up to 44 knots. Looking across at Steinlager 2 and Lion NZ beating to windward highlighted the contrast beautifully.

I was then asked to manage the building of Steinlager 2’s sail wardrobe which was the largest sail order North Sails NZ had ever had.

This trip put me out of my comfort zone in many ways, but despite that, I still tried my best to do everything and get involved.

For many of those involved in the 1987 New Zealand Challenge, not least Michael Fay (later Sir Michael), the 1987 America’s Cup (AC) result left a bitter taste. Despite KZ7 being arguably the fastest all-round 12m yacht, Fay had lost, and he was keen for another attempt at the Auld Mug.

The 2025 Sir Peter Blake Regatta opened at the Torbay Sailing Club (Hauraki Gulf) with all the colour, noise, and nervous energy that has come to define this event. Now the largest youth sailing regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, the Blake continues to be the place where sailors first test themselves against big-fleet pressure, shifting breezes, and the legacy of one of New Zealand’s greatest mariners. More than 300 competitors from across the country filled the boat park with a mix of excitement and intent, many arriving from seasons of club rivalry and winter training blocks ready to measure their progress.

Steinlager’s campaign in sponsorship of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon powered by ASICs yesterday had just one message – ‘Steinlager celebrates New Zealand’s Finest’. The city-wide takeover was crafted by PHD Aotearoa with creative from The Tuesday Club, Corner Store and LAB 5 and made possible by partners QMS NZ and MediaWorks.

Picture this: you're standing on the deck of Steinlager 2, hands gripping the wheel that Sir Peter Blake once held as he steered this yacht to a clean sweep of the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race. You're not just sailing - you're part of continuing history.

That's what the New Zealand Sailing Trust offers, turning two of our most well-known racing yachts into floating classrooms where young Kiwis learn teamwork and push their limits.

For my Gold Residential Project, I joined a five-day sailing adventure on Lion New Zealand, one of New Zealand’s most iconic yachts. The trip ran from 22 to 26 September 2025. We set sail from Auckland out into the Hauraki Gulf and towards the Coromandel, stopping at several islands along the way.

We were fortunate enough to have sailing commentator Matt Sheahan onboard Steinlager 2 whilst we were on delivery to Sullivans Bay with Kongs College. He captured the history of the vessel, announcement of Auckland as a stopover in the next Ocean Race, announcement of the new Aotearoa Ocean Racing team and we chatted about what the New Zealand Sailing Trust does.

"Having Stu on board as a mentor was incredible, and I also enjoyed the chance to share my knowledge with the younger crew members."

- Josh Wijohn

The 2025 New Zealand Millennium Cup opened with a day of thrilling competition, as some of the world’s most elegant superyachts took to the waters of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. With a stunning backdrop of volcanic islands and shifting breezes, Day 1 offered a mix of strategic long-course racing and intense short-course bursts, testing both raw speed and tactical prowess. The results have already set the stage for a closely fought regatta, where every manoeuvre and gust of wind could determine the ultimate victor.

The NZ Sailing Trust has once again proven its impact on outdoor recreation and youth development by winning the Te Tohu Whakaaweawe Kaupapa - Outstanding Event/Programme Award.

Amidst this bunch was Sir Peter Blake’s 1989 Whitbread-winning yacht, Steinlager 2, now owned by the New Zealand Sailing Trust. At 25m in length, it is likely the most comfortable boat in the fleet for an upwind race onboard. Steinlager 2 finished at 04:47.