About Sailing

A BRIEF SAILING HISTORY

Since the Club was formed in the 1950s there has always been a large variety of marine events associated with Omokoroa.

 The annual dinghy rowing race, starting at the Jetty was a very popular event, usually held at mid-winter! As the rowers matured it crept into warmer times.

The Club also hosted power boat races around the sand bars and possibly Motuhoa Island. However, as regulations grew and Councils expanded their cover and Health and Safety was created so did power boat racing die.

The Club does still hosts Senior Sailing events holding both winter and summer sailing programmes for yachts of varying sizes and hull configurations. Trailer yachts to keelers, monohulls to multihulls.

These sailing events take place in the main channels of the upper and lower harbour following the channel markers.  There are occasions when off shore trips to Karewa and Motiti Islands take place.

Children learn to sail or Junior Sailing lessons are also managed.  In 1998, the then Commodore and later Club Patron, Tod Stocker, arranged to purchase five Optimist dinghies from Reporoa. None were new and Tod arranged for his group of sailors/woodworkers and painters to “do them up”. 

Junior Sailing started in January 1999 and has been going continuously since that time.

Over the years the fleet has grown to include nine Optimists, six Sunbursts, three Vikings (mini lasers) and two small catamarans. The boat shed has also grown to accommodate these dinghies and their trailers as well as three RiB rescue and support craft with one spare in the roof!

Junior Sailing volunteers also maintain these dinghies and are known as “The Last of the Summer Wine” Group.

 Sailing takes place off the front beach at Omokoroa and sailing times are controlled around the tides in the upper harbour.

 The Club also hosts the Annual Waitangi Day sailing event or regatta for all forms of Club dinghies and there is competition for the ”Golden Centre Board” for the winning Sunburst or the Waitangi Shield for other Club dinghies.

 The Annual Duck Race and Rowing/Paddling event also provide fun and a challenge for young and old alike, plus a flutter on the winners of the duck race!!