Issue date
All the planning and hard work paid off when the first guests walked through the doors of the Pleasant Point Yacht Club for the start of their centennial celebrations recently.
A Noggin and Natter event on the Friday evening of Waitangi weekend signalled the start of the club's celebrations, an event designed to bring current members together with past members and friends of the club.
The weather was superb and the crowd of between 70 to 80 spilled out onto the expansive decks around the clubhouse to enjoy the setting sun.
This was just the start club members wanted to what turned into a stunning weekend of sailing and socialising.
Photos: Pleasant Point Yacht Club.
The club’s big annual open Mark Foy event was sailed the following day with 48 boats competing - the race officer was very busy running the Mark Foy numbers out to 30 minutes.
Trailer yachts and senior dinghies competed for the Sullivan Cup, a strong fleet of Sunbursts battled it for the Arch Lamb Trophy, Fire Bugs raced for the O’Brien Trophy, Optis, P Class and Shellbacks competed for the Ray O’Brien Bell and the multihulls (Paper Tigers, Hobie Cats and Wetas) raced for the Bob Scott Pennant.
Results:
Sullivan Cup (TYs and senior dinghies): 1st Simon Rutherford/Laurie Elder (Cropp 4.6, Kowhai), 2nd George Wills (Laser), 3rd Richard Ineson (Laser, Master Blaster)
Arch Lamb Trophy (Sunbursts): 1st Craig Tomlinson/James Palleson (Tecary), 2nd Jeanie Borsboom/Sharon Kay (Jalamba), 3rd Murray and Heather Walls (Fun)
O’Brien Trophy (Juniors): 1st Cadence Grindley-Jones (P Class, Riff Raff), 2nd Alex Croft (Dragon Fly), 3rd Rosa Borsboom (Opti, Flipper Biter)
Ray O’Brien Bell (Firebugs): 1st Nick Palleson (Sparky), 2nd Daniel Ellis, 3rd Alex Humphrey (PDQ)
Bob Scott Pennant (Multihulls): 1st Graeme Rountree/Luke Mahon (Hobie 16), 2nd James Cairns (PT), 3rd Bob Nicholls (PT)
Saturday evening saw a gathering of current and past members for the centennial celebration dinner at the Ferrymead Events Centre, when more stories were revealed over the meal.
Sunday was dedicated to the annual classic yacht race and display, with the Sharpie boat sailed by Peter Mander and Jack Cropp to victory at the 1956 Olympics the main attraction. Jest, which along sister ship Quest are owned by Motueka man Peter Walker who kindly towed her down for the centennial, was displayed alongside motorboats, yachts and a canoe.
Jest attracted a lot of attention and Peter recounted his ownership and restoration story many times over the day.
All the assembled classics went under critical eyes of judges Jim Park and Gary England from Christchurch Yacht Club as they judged the craft for best classic, best original, best restoration, judges' choice, best in show and oldest craft.
Then it was onto the water for another Mark Foy race competing for the Epiglass Classic Yacht Race Trophy, the start of which was heralded by a black powder canon being fired by Tony Wilson, much to the fright (and delight) of many watching.
A large crowd was able to catch the action, especially as the new club sits on the shores of the South New Brighton Park.
The winner of the Epiglass Classic Yacht Race Trophy for 2020/21 was the Tempo class Secret Weapon sailed by Craig Keenan and Gavin Falkingham (PPYC).
The clubhouse was again packed for the prizegiving and afternoon tea following the race, which was a great end to the weekend's celebrations.
"After all the planning and work, it is satisfying to look back and appreciate what the club has achieved in the last 10 years from being completely destroyed and rebuilding a new facility, to growing our membership, running the Burnsco Sunburst 2020/21 National Championship in January and then just weeks later holding our centennial," club spokesman Nigel Humphreys said. "It seems that all our stars have finally aligned and the future for Pleasant Point Yacht Club looks very bright indeed."
Head to the club’s Facebook page here for more photos and spectacular drone footage of the Sullivan Cup day – courtesy of Petrotec Services.
Anyone travelling to Christchurch and keen to look around the new facilities and even get out on the water is invited to contact Nigel Humphreys at the Pleasant Point Yacht Club.
