Issue date
The national body for all yacht clubs, Yachting New Zealand, invited all New Zealand yacht clubs to take part of a Volvo sponsored sailing day held on Sunday 16 February 2014.
The intent was to showcase the sport and get existing and prospective club members to take to the water on the same day across the country.
Each club could elect what type of activities they wanted to run. At Bluff Yacht Club an Open Day was held.
The weather, which clearly plays an important part in boating, was as close to perfect as anyone could wish, with steady breezes and a warm sun. A dozen dinghies and larger yachts hoisted their sails and spent the afternoon sailing in the harbour.
The learn to sail fleet, consisting mostly of local Bluff kids, showed off their newly acquired skills on the water.
A number of parents and their children had the opportunity to “ have a go”, both in the dinghies and on the club rescue craft in attendance.
Bluff Harbour is a challenging environment for the smaller dinghies, with commercial traffic, wind and tides affecting the ability of the young skippers to safely manage their boats. The fleet managed very well and the smiles on the young sailors faces said it all when they returned to shore for a barbeque sausage provided at the club rooms.
Bluff Yacht Club will hold similar events next season.
