Sailing clubs extend a hand
Mana Cruising Club celebrated its 50th Jubilee last weekend with celebrations that ran the length of the long weekend. Club manager Wayne Robert says they have come a long way since the days of citizen run coastguards and navigating between the sandbanks. ?The club has made some great strides from where it was. ?I would say we are fairly strong in the community, people in the area know who we are, and where we are,? Mr Robert says. He joined in 1978 and has seen the transformation into a modern cruising club. Mr Roberts has rescued a few wayward boats in his time. ?There was no marina here and no coastguard. ?There were people that went out to save others though,? he says. At the end of September Allen Bulleyment was named as the winner of the clubs most prestigious event, the Relling Cup. For the second time he took the honours in a gruelling event that began in April. The well timed Jubilee celebrations coincided with the launching of the clubs summer yacht season. ?There will be buoy races, Mana and Kapiti Island races, and a Queen Charlotte Sound race. ?If people want to come down we can probably find a boat to put them into if they are really keen,? he says. Lowry Bay Yacht Club in Petone is also preparing for the summer season and club manager Anne Callaghan says local are also invited to try out their sea legs. ?Anyone who wants to do some sailing should come down on a Friday. ?There are always boaties who will show you what to do, and members that will teach you how to sail. ?On Friday you will really enjoy yourself, and of course you can see how your sea legs are,? Mrs Callaghan says. The Lowry Bay club is promoting a youth race on November 29 in association with the Rotary Club of Pencarrow. A large trophy and prizes are up for grabs in the under 17 division. ?The club is a great place to have a shared sense of camaraderie,? she says. Their summer series kicks off on November 1, with eight races planned.
