November 21, 2025 Harken Fosters

An All-Star Mission: Fosters All Things Starling Workshop

Harken Fosters presents All Things Starling; a live development workshop reigniting NZ's legacy of learning through live events and fostering the community.

"Bring back events with expertise, engagement and education!"

For generations, New Zealand sailors have been shaped by a culture of shared expertise and mentorship. Yet, as manufacturing and sailmaking shift offshore, the transfer of knowledge within club communities has diminished. All Things Starling was conceived to rekindle that flow of practical understanding—from rig tuning to race preparation—ensuring that the next generation inherits not only equipment, but wisdom.

Our mission is simple: to bridge the gap between top performers and developing sailors by creating opportunities for youth, parents, and coaches to learn directly from industry professionals. We aim to revive and share the expertise that makes sailing truly transformative. The Starling class, uniquely New Zealand in origin and spirit, provides the perfect starting point for this pilot program.

"The Starling is a rite of passage for countless young Kiwi sailors."

A class that rewards grit, skill, curiosity, and good mentorship; Harken Fosters has supported this community for decades, and this workshop extends that commitment. The aim is to make high-quality knowledge accessible to every sailor and parent, regardless of where they’re based. This pilot initiative brings specialists, fleet wisdom, and class-specific guidance into one place to strengthen the fleet and uplift the next generation.

Our All Star Programme

This pilot session takes you inside the practical side of what keeps a Starling fast, reliable, and race-ready. You’ll follow real-time demonstrations, learn the reasoning behind key adjustments, and pick up habits that make maintenance easier and performance more consistent. Whether you’re a sailor, parent, coach, or club volunteer, you’ll leave with sharper insight, clearer confidence, and a deeper connection to the class.

Core Sections:

The evolution of Starlings: sailmaking to tuning
Rigging, hardware, and maintenance top tips
Coaching insights and technique development
Equipment insights and product demonstrations
Campaign operations & planning for a season
Open Q&A + networking session

What’s Included

• Live rigging and tuning demonstrations from leaders of the fleet
• Maintenance walkthroughs with supplementary technical guide sheets
• Q&A with coaches and technical experts, plus tips from former Starling sailors
• Post-event digital resources, including six video recaps of workshop highlights
• Parent coaching and campaign-planning insights from Rod Davis
• Take-home Starling “Essential Enhancer” service kits and an online-shop event special

Ready to Join the Front?

This is an open call to the Starling community. Spaces are limited, so we’re gathering expressions of interest early to ensure the best possible experience. Register below to be first in line for updates, confirmed panellists, and exclusive workshop materials.

This is a free 90-minute pilot workshop, including short breaks and time for networking. Attendees will directly shape future workshop offerings and help us build long-term value for the Starling community.

Saturday 13 December
After sailing, 5–7pm

Fosters Ship Chandlery | Westhaven Marina
129 Westhaven Drive, Auckland [>]

Click here to REGISTER YOUR INTEREST [>]

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