our place
Keeping it fun, local and affordable –sailing at French Bay Hamish Hall-Smith started sailing at French Bay Yacht Club at the tender age of five. Now he is the club’s head coach, leading the way for a new generation of young sailors with a focus on keeping it fun, affordable and local. “My earliest memory of sailing was the sound of the water lapping on the plywood hull and the boat rolling around in unexpected ways,” says Hamish, who sailed with his Dad – former club commodore Matt Hall-Smith aboard Snorter until he was big enough for an Optimist dinghy. He recalls that it was a cheap wooden Optimist – inexpensive but great fun. He discovered he had a talent for racing and progressed through the youth classes, all the time training and racing with French Bay Yacht Club, and becoming the youngest sailor ever to win a national title in the 3.7 skiff and then the J14 class. He went on to design and build a prototype R Class foiling boat, and then ventured into the A-Class, racing alongside the likes of America’s Cup legends Glenn Ashby and Pete Burling. As for many others, Covid-19 changed his plans and he had to find sailing-related opportunities close to home in order to take up study at Auckland University. But the chance to take the coaching position at French Bay Yacht Club was also an opportunity to give back, and to shape the club’s culture and its place as a local sailing club. “I think local sport in general is feeling the squeeze as clubs are more being treated as a launchpad rather than a destination, which is not sustainable for either clubs
Relief is in sight
Construction of the replacement public toilets in Titirangi Village is closer to starting following recent resource consent hearings. According to Auckland Council’s John Cranfield the resource consent hearing for the Titirangi toilet block was adjourned following a request from the chair for a revised set of plans, incorporating some of the suggestions made by the Al Titchener Family Trust. These plans (already being drafted) were subsequently provided and the hearing was closed in late April. The resource consent application for the toilets has now been granted with conditions. These conditions require measures to protect the notable rimu tree, implementation of the landscape design as approved within the next planting season and that the new/
and kids. We’re actively trying to reverse this process at FBYC, and we’re encouraging kids to realise that you are not missing out by sailing local, in fact you get a more communal, accessible and affordable experience. FBYC is very special in this way. For me it’s the stuff that happy childhoods are made of – my hope is that these experiences will make sailing a sport for life for kids coming through, and French Bay a home for anyone who wants to join in.” Anyone of any age keen to sail at French Bay should visit www.frenchbay.org.nz. The club has waiting lists for upcoming learn to sail programmes but those with experience and their own boat are welcome to join at any time.
Hamish (right) coaching Eamon Withers in the action-packed 3.7 skiff. Eamon started sailing in the Optimist class with French Bay Yacht Club.
relocated bike racks and seating are installed within three months of the completion of the facility. Submitters who disagree with the decision, or parts of it now have an opportunity to file an appeal with the Environment Court within 15 working days of receiving the decision.
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The Fringe JUNE 2021
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