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As the Port Chalmers Yacht Club prepares to celebrate its 125th birthday, Otago Daily Times reporter — and club member — Chris Morris explores its history.
(Heather, from Dunedin, powers to victory in the inaugural Sanders Cup on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour in 1921. Photo: Port Chalmers Yacht Club.)
It was a David-and-Goliath battle between the upstarts from Dunedin and the Iron Duke in Auckland.
The year was 1921, and a crew pulled from Otago Harbour’s sailing community was taking on New Zealand’s second Governor General, Lord Jellicoe, on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.
At stake, for the first time, was the Sanders Cup — the trophy that was to become the premiere symbol of interprovincial yachting in New Zealand. And, as the early racing went against the men from the south, it was a Port Chalmers Yacht Club member who helped turn the tide.
Lord Jellicoe, the former commander of Britain’s Grand Fleet, and also a keen sailor, was defending the honour of the north in his 14-foot clinker, Iron Duke, named after his World War 1 flagship.
Lining up against him for the best-of-five series was Heather, skippered by Dunedin owner and Otago Yacht Club member Bill McCulloch.
After Heather took an early lead in the series, Lord Jellicoe fought back, winning the next two races and appeared poised for total victory. It was then PCYC member Alf Wiseman took the helm, helping Heather power to wins that brought the Sanders Cup south.
It was a victory that was to be repeated by Otago sailors three times in the following years, in 1925, 1930 and 1954.
But it was the inaugural victory, and the part played by Mr Wiseman, that continued to echo through the pages of the Port Chalmers club’s history, according to long-time member Dennis Kestila.
"The club relies on the history with Alf Wiseman, skippering Heather. "We like to give him credit for the win, even though it wasn’t his boat," Mr Kestila said.
A club member for more than 40 years, Mr Kestila wrote a book on the club’s history for its centenary.
He said the club — with a membership of about 100 — had a proud history of punching above its weight and producing national champions across a variety of classes.
"When you take it down to numbers, and the numbers we’ve got playing, we’ve done pretty well over the years."
(The Port Chalmers Yacht Club, which lays claim to being the oldest continuous yacht club in Dunedin, will mark its 125th birthday at Waitangi weekend. Photo: Otago Daily Times)
One of those champions was current club commodore Richard Hawkins, who — together with his crew — was crowned national champion in the Nolex 25 class for 2015-16.
Mr Hawkins said the key to the club’s success was time on the water.
"I think we set the bar quite high, racing-wise. We’ve always had that reputation in Otago, where a lot of the best sailors in Otago come out of Port or have sailed at Port.
"I think it is because we do race every weekend that we can ... If you want to get good, you’ve got to spend time on the water."
The club laid claim to being the oldest continuous yacht club in Dunedin, but had worked hard to open its doors to new members by making the organisation more family-friendly. That was particularly important when people were busier and opportunities were everywhere, he believed.
"If you don’t have families, and if you don’t have wives enjoying themselves, men won’t come. Nowadays, if it’s not a family environment, people just don’t bother coming."
Dunedin was lucky to have "the most beautiful harbour in the country," but it was underutilised, and more people should take advantage of it, he said.
The club offered a place for young and novice sailors to learn from those with more experience, and the family focus had helped ensure it was in good heart, he said.
"I think it’s more active now than it’s been in the last 10 to 15 years."
The club’s history would be celebrated with four days of festivities over Waitangi weekend, beginning with a social get-together on February 3, Mr Hawkins said.
It would be followed by two days of racing, a dinner, dance and guest talk on Sunday night, and a classic boat day on Waitangi Day, he said.
"One hundred and twenty-five years is a very long time for any club to be going ... It’s just a good opportunity to get past members and friends together."
- Otago Daily Times
