Lake Taupo 7 & 8 November 2026

Nelson Yacht Club will host the 71st National Championship from 4th – 7th March 2027. Sailing in the stunning Tasman Bay / Te Tai O Aorere, with shoreside facilities at Nelson Yacht Club on Wakefield Quay, close to the Nelson city centre.

The 2026 Zephyr National Championship was held at the Howick Sailing Club over the period 12-15 March coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Des Townson completing the Zephyr design in 1956.

Steve Pyatt, who came third in the Lake Taupo Regatta, reports on how the event went.

"...I expected my first sail in the Zephyr to be slow, but I was surprised at how good the sensation of displacement sailing in a nicely balanced boat felt.

Kia ora, Zephyr sailors & friends - it's definitely sad that we can't all be in Wellington together for Nationals this week as planned, but if we can't be at a Zephyr Nationals, why not watch one?

Written by Cameron Dunn Published by LiveSailDie April 17 2021

As many as 70 sailors from across Aotearoa descended on the Manly Sailing Club recently for the 65th Zephyr National Championships in a display of the continued strength of the class.

A full fibreglass Zephyr has been a long time in gestation, but finally the prototype was launched on October 3.

Greg Wright from Worser Bay is this season's Zephyr Champion!

Former Zephyr Class Patron Noel May died on Friday10th January, aged 89.

1/4 Scale RC Zephyr Prototype "Blueprint" hits the water!

If you missed the Zephyr Nationals in real life, you can see it here.

The 2019 Zephyr Nationals concluded today with Helgaard Dannhauser the new champion, from local sailor Mark Thomas and Paul Pearson from Manly.

Mike Pearce Boatbuilders Ltd has ben involved in custom building components for projects such as Americas Cup and has built 24 Starlings for younger sailors.