Building on boating success
Historically The Paremata Boating Club led the region in sailing, but differing circumstances saw their membership fall as low as 40 in the early 1990s. After a lot of hard work they are back to a healthy membership of 150 and looking to capitalise on the increase in young sailors. ?We have been putting into effect a lot of the strategic planning ? like a lot of clubs; we have been around for a while, produced Olympic and American?s Cup sailors. ?But we had this drop-off when clubs started running in a more professional way,? says Club commodore John Grace. Loosing talented sailors overseas, or worse still to Auckland, plagued the club as they fought for survival. The idea of bringing in experienced trainers was dropped in favour of building up and retaining knowledge locally. ?We coach the members, including the parents, so the knowledge base we need is here. ?That is a clubs main asset, the knowledge in their members, so they can pass it on to the next group that comes through.? Involving parents halts the club?s ?baby-sitting? role and creates more ownership of the sport. With the Plimmerton club more interested in fishing and Mana on cruising, Paremata is leading the junior sailing fight-back. Match-racing has also been introduced to mix up the membership?s skill-set. ?It?s about creating a balance of social and sporting, the two need to work together,? says Mr Grace, chief judge of the Sunburst class. Sunburst sailing is the prominent class on everyone?s minds at Heretaunga Boating Club. After a successful bid they have secured the National Sunburst regatta for Wellington Anniversary weekend. ?It?s the main thing for us; hosting the nationals over three days, it is a big thing,? says vice commodore Mark Luiten. The club shares a healthy rivalry with Muriti Sailing Club and is feeling confident for the upcoming regatta. Coming off a successful Sunburst regatta in December the club is vibrant with junior sailing classes at capacity during daybreak session on the harbour. ?They stay close to shore, and we would love some good weather over Christmas. ?Younger people are always welcome and we like setting up families for sailing,? says Mr Luiten. Petone Rowing Club secretary David Pullar says they are currently in the process of upgrading their buildings and club house. The clubs early morning sessions have been bolstered in the past few years by the sports successes on the world stage. ?We get down early in the morning and the water is mostly still ?We have found an influx of school level kids wanting to row, after the Swindell twins there was a real boom at the school level,? says Mr Pullar. The club is building up to the regional champs in Hamilton and are aiming for the international rowing champs to be held in 2010.
