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Muritai Yacht Club is preparing to celebrate its 75th jubilee this coming weekend (15-17 March). The family oriented club, located in Eastbourne, has been a focal point for local sailors for decades, with many famous sailing names having passed through its doors in that time. A full weekend of events has been planned, catering to both those who are land based and those wanting to get out on the water.
Friday 15 March sees night of ‘Tall Tales’ at the yacht club from 7:30pm, with past and current sailors getting together to celebrate 75 years of adventures and competition.
Saturday 16 March sees ‘the Amazing Harbour Race’ staged with 50-plus boats of all shapes and sizes racing a classic course around Wellington Harbour’s two main islands, with a stop-off on Ward Island for Juniors to enjoy the environment, and for the seniors to complete a challenge before continuing their race. Saturday night will also feature a party at the Days Bay Pavilion, which was the site of the very first official Muritai Yacht Club function in 1938.
Concluding the weekend’s events is the running of the Tiapo Shield Regatta on Sunday; this handicapped regatta allows different classes of boats and sailors of different skills to compete against each other on a level playing field.
The club’s Racing Secretary, James Sorensen, says that the jubilee weekend “is the culmination of a year of hard work by the club members and will be something to remember for years to come.”
“We have been looking forward to this for over a year and there will definitely be something for everyone, from our most junior members to our most senior members, and of course any members of the public who want to learn more.”
Tickets for the evening events and regatta entry forms are available on the club’s website www.myc.org.nz and the club welcomes visitors and spectators to join in the festivities throughout the weekend. The club’s 75th anniversary book will also be for sale to all.
