RobiNZ Personal Blog

Tales off yachts lost and found

The news tonight of a solo sailors yacht turning up years after being abandoned reminded me of Chris Sayer. In 2002 he was forced to abandon his 6.5m racing yacht 480 kilometres west of Cape Reinga, NZ, after a collision with an unidentified object tore the keel out of the hull. Two to three years later, see the linked post, it was found in Papua New Guinea, approximately 2700 kilometres to the north. www.mysailing.com.au/news/on-a-remote-beach-in-png-they-never-expected-a-solo-racing-yacht Last I heard Chris was still sailing around the world, no longer solo, with his family. Text from the linked post in case it goes offline.... Read more →

Chris Sayer Update

Chris Sayer Update: I still see lots of google searches arriving here looking for information on Chris the Mini-Transat. You can find more on what “Chris Sayer (The Kiwi) - Production Manager” who “ha... Read more →

Mini Transat 2005 News

Yachting World have good coverage of the 2005 Mini Transat. Chris is not competing this time due to family commitments. Yachting World: Mini Transat 05: news index Read more →

Mini 2004 Premier Skipper scratch : Chris Sayer - NZL

Message from Chris Sayer. Congratulations on being Number 1! Hi all, Link below shows a bit of a sup... Read more →

3rd in the Chronos 6,50

Message from Chris regarding the Chronos 6,50: Hi, Well the Chrono 6,50 is a different race for sure. The start finish line is open for 7 to 14 hours on each of the 3 days. You sail single handed around Groix Island (about 25Nm) starting when you wish. One has to do 4 tours and at least 1 tour each day. Only the 3 fastest tours count. There can be as many skippers per boat as you wish. David Raison, a friend from the 1999 and 2003 mini transats also did 2 tours on NZL403, the first time I have... Read more →

NZL 403 wins "The Open Demi-Cle"

A fantastic effort from Chris Sayer and Pierre-Yves Moreau, in NZL 403, to win all three legs of The Open Demi-Cle Race. General Ranking Of The Race (pos 1-3: click for full results): Rgs Ident. Concurrents Grp/Cl HH:MM:SS Club / Pays 1 NZL 403 (SAYER CHRIS, MOREAU PIERRE YVES) 6.5/PROTO 6j.11:22:23 RNZYS 2 198 KAREN LIQUID (HARDY ADRIEN, LEBOUCHER PIERRE) 6.5/PROTO 6j.20:06:04 A P C C NANTES 3 433 PARIDIS (DOUGUET CORENTIN, HENSEVAL ERIC) 6.5/PROTO 6j.20:22:06 WINCHES CLUB This is Chris' account of the races: The race start was just outside Lorient on a perfect day. 10 to 12 knots... Read more →

Chris Sayer leading Demi-Cle

Chris won the first 2 legs of the Demi-Cle, and is on the third leg now. News at http://open650.demi-cle.com/2004/uk/intro.htm Read more →

Mini Transat qualifier heads to Cardiff

Mini Transat qualifier heads to Cardiff The Mini Transat qualifier - the Demi-cle for Open 6.50s will visit Cardiff Bay for the first time in the event's history.... Read more →

News from Chris Sayer, France

Chris returned to France a few days before the mini Fastnet, a two handed race from Douarnenez, around the Scilly Isle, Fastnet Rock and back to France. He had been in NZ for two weeks for the launch of the book "Oceans Alone". Hi, got back to find the boat safe and sound. All I had to do was tune the rig, clean the bottom and sort gear. Of course there were the pre race checks as well but no problems. The start of the Fastnet was delayed for an hour due to light winds but they got us going... Read more →

Chris Sayer & Southern Spars

“We sponsored Chris’ rig because he is one of the true achievers in New Zealand sailing,” said David Barnaby, Southern Spars’ Designer. “In the 1999 event he was third in a boat he built himself.” “Last year he lost his new boat in the Tasman after hitting a submerged object. But we were really impressed by his determination to start again from scratch and build another boat and compete successfully.” Southern Spars : world leaders in carbon spar design and engineering Read more →