Auckland

MetService have closed their enhanced MyWeather services on the public website, however in the interim they have created a public login to their business site www.metconnect.co.nz (Login myweatherplus/weather4u). Most of the information is not new, but the Animated Wind Model shows 3 hourly wind forecasts for the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch recreational marine areas for the next 48 hours. http://www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=mwp_notice

The parents of one of the engineers on board the Air New Zealand Airbus flight which crashed into the sea off the coast of France say their son enjoyed family pursuits and outdoor activities including windsurfing and blow-carting. Full article http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=148829

The New Zealand RS:X National Championships will boast an impressive starting line-up when racing starts this Friday off Takapuna Beach, North Shore City. Plenty of top international windsurfers are already in the country for the RS:X World Championships in January and will compete in this weekend’s Nationals as preparation. Over 60 windsurfers are already entered and with international competitors arriving into New Zealand daily, organisers of the National Championships are anticipating that around 80 windsurfers will take part. Just 20 to 30 of the expected total are New Zealanders with the majority being internationals here early for the World Championships.