200 attend West Auckland yacht club open day

by Jodie Bakewell-White

NZCT Regional Support Officer, Kim Admore was at French Bay Yacht Club in Titirangi where a perfect summer day welcomed an estimated 200 people who attended the club’s O-Day last Sunday 11 October.

Following a talk by the Commodore and Vice Commodore about getting into sailing at French Bay, dozens experienced a taste of sailing, launching at the club’s dedicated boat ramp, and heading out for a short sprint around the harbour.

Kim Admore demonstrated his Optimist simulator to a continuous stream of budding young sailors, Manukau Coastguard took kids and parents out for a spin on its rescue boat, and the Orpheus Sea Scout kayaks were available for those keen to try kayaking.

The Open Day was held under sunny skies and a frisky breeze that made the sailing challenging but fun. Even very young kids had a go in Cadets, Jollyboats, and Sunbursts under the guidance of experienced skippers.

A significant number of membership applications were received, and dozens of children and adults expressed their interest in learn to sail courses and racing.

The small club’s challenge now is how to best manage the influx of keen people, and it will utilise its volunteer base, which includes qualified coaches, to do so.

French Bay Yacht Club was founded in 1956 and for decades was a central meeting point for the French Bay community. Now a group of hard working volunteers and keen sailors are seeing the iconic sailing club enter a renaissance period. French Bay Yacht Club occupies one of the most picturesque beaches in Auckland and offers a unique experience for sailors and boaties: one of relaxed, social dinghy sailing. The Club offers a popular Learn to Sail program for children, and club members are friendly and happy to provide anybody with advice about getting into the sport.

While French Bay Yacht Club is home to members of the Optimist, Zephyr and Jollyboat fleets, it invites all types of sailing boats to participate in racing and adventure picnics.

Visit www.frenchbay.org.nz for info, or visit the club on an advertised race day.