Committee

Matt has one sailor in Open Fleet.  He is new to sailing but enthusiastic about encouraging young people into a life long love of the water and sailing.

Having relocated to New Zealand six years ago, Chris and her family fell in love with the country’s enchanting sailing culture. Her 13-year-old son sails in the open fleet at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. 

Chris is passionate about ensuring accessible and enjoyable sailing experiences for families, particularly those without a sailing background. Her goal is to foster inclusivity within the New Zealand sailing community.

Sam overseas the Coaches Pathway and is a passionate and talented past Opti sailor, an enthusiastic coach and is currently the youth and events manager for Yachting New Zealand. He is focused on helping the committee with sailor retention and enjoyment. Sam has a small 26ft keelboat and a WASZP that doesn’t get used enough!

James sailed Optimist and P-Class before switching to windsurfing through the Athens Olympic cycle, he has two daughters currently in Open fleet. He is focused on sailor retention and enjoyment, to maximise Optimist as a entry pathway for NZ sailing.

Claire is an Opti-Mum with a 12-year old, in the Open fleet at Wakatere Boating Club in Auckland. She doesn’t bring sailing experience or expertise but as an academic with a focus on educational improvement, she’s keen to contribute to the work of the association.

Claire has loved seeing the amazing learning and development that comes from progression through Optimist pathways, and is interested in how participation in the Opti scene can be as inclusive as possible.

Leny grew up sailing Optimists and 420s, first on the Norfolk Broads and then across the UK and Europe. She represented Edinburgh in BUSA and SUSA team racing and spent most of her twenties racing ‘big boats’ in the Solent and the South of France.

After moving to NZ in 2009, Leny raced on keelers in Auckland before moving to the Bay of Plenty. She enjoys racing her trailer sailer when not transporting her two daughters to optimist regattas. Leny lives near Whakatane and is a member of Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club and Port Ohope Yacht Club. 

Simon is relatively new to the yachting scene. He has a daughter sailing at KYC where he represents the Green and White fleets.

Simon’s focus is to encourage younger sailors to get out on the water as often as possible through summer midweek training, the Auckland Winter Sprint Series and having a go in regattas near and far.  He has also coordinated a contingent of AIMS Games rookies this year.

John sailed dinghies (including an Optimist) as a youth and has only recently become involved in sailing again after his son took up optimist sailing.

An active member of Worser Bay Boating Club he hopes to add a balance to the NZIODA Committee bringing perspectives from Worser Bay as well as other Wellington clubs.

Wayne has been a competitive sailor for over 50 years and has had a long association with the Optimist class as he had a son at the first Opti Nats in 1996, and with 2 sons competing he attended the next 8 nationals.

He has also coached the worlds team to Martinique in 1999 and has organised the New Plymouth Opti Nationals in 2001 and 2012 as well as all the North Island regattas at New Plymouth.

He works for Yachting NZ as a Regional Development Manager for the Central North Island Region and through that role he has attended all Nationals and North Islands within that region including the Opti Worlds in Napier in 2011.

In addition Wayne also runs “Opti Sail” in Wellington which is a 3 day live in sailing camp for sailors just out of learn to sail.

An active member of New Plymouth Yacht Club he hopes to add a balance to the NZIODA Committee.