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They are the unsung heroes of the sailing community, contributing their time, knowledge, and skills to ensure the sport remains vibrant in New Zealand.
And that’s why our yacht club volunteers deserve all the recognition they can get.
Tomorrow (June 24) marks the end of the 2023 National Volunteer Week, a nationwide initiative honouring the work of all volunteers in Aotearoa – a sector that contributes an estimated $4 billion to the country’s economy each year.
With 108 member clubs and more than 24,000 members, a large network of volunteers is required to ensure the smooth running of yachting events.
“We would like to acknowledge and thank our many volunteers across the country who continue to be the driving force behind our clubs,” said Yachting New Zealand national sport development director Raynor Haagh.
“They are the lifeblood of our sport – organising regattas, maintaining facilities, teaching sailing lessons, and coordinating social events.”
Other ways of recognising these volunteers are by nominating them for an award at your local yacht club or for a service award at the annual Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards, Haagh said.
One recipient of a service award in 2022 was Napier Sailing Club’s Bob Witham, who has served as the head measurer for the New Zealand International Optimist Dinghy Association (NZIODA) for many years.
Witham has been hailed as “a true champion for safety and fairness” for young Opti sailors and was honoured alongside more than a dozen others at the Excellence Awards in November last year.
Asked how he has maintained his passion for volunteering, Witham said it was a way of giving back to the sport that has been a part of his life for more than six decades.
“I've been sailing for over 60 years and when I first started, there were people who helped me get into it,” he explained. “I’ve been helped and now I am happy to help others. It’s really as simple as that.”
Napier Sailing Club's Bob Witham received a service award at the 2022 Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards.
Volunteering is part of Kiwi yachties’ DNA, Witham believes.
“You come into it knowing that someone must do it. That if we want to keep this sport going and we want it to grow, then someone has to do the work.
“I especially enjoy seeing something get done when you know there’s no money for it to happen any other way. And I know I am one of many volunteers who feel that way.”
