The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) will host a Corporate Regatta on 9 December2004 to support its young sailors competing overseas and the international development work of Save the Children.

RNZYS Commodore David Charlesworth said corporate participants would join a professional skipper onboard a yacht or launch and race up to 50 other vessels on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.

“There will be two hours of team work and fun on the water,” he said. “Participants can choose to be involved as crew members or simply sit back and enjoy the view.”

Commodore Charlesworth said the RNZYS wanted to help Save the Children with its fight for children’s rights around the world, and the synchrony of the regatta with the second leg of the Global Challenge yacht race presented a fitting opportunity to do so.

“In many ways we see this event as a unique way to celebrate Team Save the Children’s participation in the world’s toughest yacht race,” he said. “The 12 Global Challenge yachts are due to call in to Wellington between 6-9 January 2005. As we go about our scaled-down version of the race on 9 December, Team Save the Children will no doubt be battling prevailing winds and currents to be one of the first boats to arrive in New Zealand.”

Half of the proceeds raised on 9 December will support the RNZYS International Racing Fund, which enables young sailors to compete in world championships and offshore regattas.

Corporates can register for the RNZYS Save the Children Regatta online at www.rnzys.org.nz