sailing

A great book to read that tells you everything you want to know about Netball, one of the greatest and most popular sports played in Australia and New Zealand. In reading this book, you will learn everything there is to know about Netball including the history of the sport, the rules, training, clothing and equipment. Great for anyone who is a fan, plays netball and/or wanting to play.

For more information about Netball, you visit the website, Netball New Zealand.

The Story of Buildings.

Anyone who is doing a project on the history of buildings and architecture will love this book! This book explains how and why famous buildings in history came to be built. The book also goes into further detail about how did people start making buildings, how did they learn to make them bigger, stronger and more comfortable? And why they decorated them in so many different ways. Great for ages 10 years and over.

Pastels.

As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, pastels were the norm of bringing out children’s inner artist. Thirty/twenty years later using pastels still hasn’t gone out of fashion. So what are you waiting for? Now is the Time to bring out your own inner artist! Have a big art project coming up? Bored with water colors and acrylic paints, Why not give pastels a go? This book will provide you with step-by-step guides show how to create a variety of projects using pastels.

Dare the Wind.

Girls, this is one book you need to read on inspirational women. This book tells the true story of one of the first female navigators, Eleanor Prentiss and her ship, the Flying Cloud who, despite battling raging storms, broken masts, and dangerously slow winds managed to complete its maiden voyage from New York to San Francisco in a period (and world breaking record) of eighty nine days. Also will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who is interested in sailing and ships.

Florence Nightingale.

Children of all ages will enjoy this beautifully illustrated picture book written by celebrated author and artist Demi. This new picture book biography of Florence Nightingale beautifully portrays the story of Florence’s life and explores the long-lasting effects of her career, including her innovative and revolutionary ideas on medicine, emphasising the need of cleanliness in hospitals, nutritional values of hot food and organization of hospitals. Children will not only learn about Florence Nightingale’s inspirational life, but also the history of hospital and nursing practices that are still used today.

How the Beatles changed the world.

The Beatles are one of the most innovative and revolutionary bands that broke many world records and changed the face of music forever. Fifty years after the British invasion began, Martin Sandler explores The Beatles’ long-lasting impact on the world in this wonderful book. Overall I think you will be overly impressed and astonished by the amount of information held in this book about everything you thought you knew (and didn’t know) about The Beatles and their musical history. A great book for anyone who is a fan of The Beatles’ music and history.

FACT: “Hey Jude” was released in August 1968 as the first single from the Beatles’ record label Apple Records. More than seven minutes in length, it was at the time the longest single ever to top the British charts.

Team NZ win the Louis Vuitton Cup

admin28 August, 2013

Don’t follow sailing? Well now it’s time to take an interest.

Team New Zealand have won the Louis Vuitton Cup in San Francisco, beating team Luna Rossa. This means that we get the chance to sail against Oracle Team USA to win The America’s Cup – the oldest trophy in international sport.

The America’s Cup was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight in England, which was won by the schooner America. The trophy was renamed the America’s Cup after the winning yacht.

The America’s Cup challenge is now normally held every 4 years, and is hosted by the country who won the cup during the last challenge. Those competing for the cup must first race each other -the best team wins the Louis Vuitton Cup, and this means they get to challenge the last winner for the America’s Cup.

Here’s a bit of recent history about New Zealand’s involvement:

Team New Zealand have won the America’s Cup twice before. In 1995 they beat team Young America and brought the cup to New Zealand. In 1999 they managed to successfully defend the cup in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and keep it in New Zealand. But in 2003 they lost to team Alinghi, and the cup left New Zealand.

Alinghi, from Switzerland, was the first European team to win in 152 years! In 2007 Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Cup and the chance to challenge Alhingi for the America’s Cup. The event was held in Spain, and was the first time since the original event in 1851 that is had been raced in Europe. Unfortunately, Team New Zealand wasn’t successful and Alhingi managed to hold on to the cup.

It gets a little complicated here… There were some yacht clubs that fought with Alinghi about the Cup. To keep it simple – in 2010 a trimaran boat named USA-17 challenged Alhingi for the cup and won it – returning the cup back to America, where it is now being fought over again in San Francisco this year.

So Team New Zealand have won the Louis Vuitton cup, which means we now get to challenge the current cup holders – Oracle Team USA for the America’s Cup. If we win, the cup will come to New Zealand and, in 4 years’ time, top sailing teams from around the world will come to New Zealand to challenge us for the cup.

You can follow the America’s Cup event on the official website and Team New Zealand on their official site.

The New Zealand Herald will have all the latest news.

The first race of the America’s Cup challenge will be on Saturday 7th September.

Sailing at the Olympics

wcl staff10 July, 2012 1 Comment

Sailing is something that New Zealand has done well in at previous Olympic Games, and this year 15 athletes will be competing in sailing events for New Zealand at the London 2012 Olympic Games. You can read about them here and more about what will be happening in the sailing events in London here.

Did you know that Barbara Kendall is the only woman in NZ to have competed at 5 Olympic Games? She competed in boardsailing and has won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Tom Ashley also won a gold medal in boardsailing at the last Olymics, in Beijing.

For more facts about the Olympics and some fun games have a look at this site here.

Make sure you come along to the library for our free school holiday activities all about Paralympics and Olympics 2012. Meet a Paralympian and try out their special sporting equipment! For more information phone 499 4444 or visit us online.

If you are interested in some books about sailing or New Zealand sailors have a look at the ones below!