The Howick Sailing Club has celebrated 90 years of service to the local community with a weekend of festivities.
The club has played an important role in the local community over its lifetime, teaching water safety to thousands of young people.
Over the last 10 years it has had something of a renaissance, with a growing membership and some wonderful support from the local community.
The club currently has more than 100 active members and provides support to various local primary schools through the Waterwise programme, which it facilitates on behalf of the charity.
The evening celebration on Friday, October 27 was attended by more the 75 guests, including life members and past club commodores.
Three speakers took to the floor to discuss their experiences at the club, including 91-year-old Bevin Cornwall who served as commodore between 1981 and 1983, and head coach Peter Eaglen.
The festivities were followed by a special club regatta the next day, in which nearly 30 sailors took to the water.
It included sailors from Bucklands Beach and Maraetai, with whom Howick has a close relationship.
The day was won by Lachlan Wills, Alex Sommerville and Jonathan Tough after a hard-fought battle with some shifty and challenging conditions on the water.
Current commodore of the Howick Sailing Club, Renata Money, says it was wonderful to celebrate the anniversary with such a wide group and hear stories of how it has changed through the years.
“The regatta was a great success with sailors from the eastern suburbs taking part in some close racing on what many regard as the best bit of sailing water in Auckland.
“It’s been a proud weekend for the club and I look forward to continuing to build on our great legacy with the team,” he says.
Over the last 90 years, many of New Zealand’s most successful sailors, including several of the current Emirates Team New Zealand squad, have sailed at Howick as part of their careers, including Richard Meecham and Joey Allen.
The club offers learn to sail programmes for nine-to-16-years throughout terms four and one, and has an active race training programme for sailors wanting to take the sport more seriously.
This year it will add wing foiling to its teaching programme, with the hopes of engaging a new audience of sailors who want to learn how to fly.
If you would like to know more about the club or get involved, visit www.howicksailingclub.co.nz or the club’s active Facebook page.
