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For the last six years, the Pleasant Point Yacht Club have called five shipping containers home, with no power, showers, toilet or kitchen.
They officially swapped this for their new clubrooms recently, marking a new beginning in the club's 98-year history.
It has been nine years since the club had to find a new location after their old home was destroyed in the September 2010 earthquake.
Along the way there was the frustration of not being able to build the bespoke building that had been designed due to a lack of funds but, in the end, after making the decision to purchase two building from the University of Canterbury, they have been re-configured into an great facility.
It means the upcoming season is more than just another season for the Pleasant Point Yacht Club, and a large turnout of club members and friends witnessed the official opening of the new club facilities despite a forecast predicting strong southerlies and snow to 600m on the Port Hills. The warm clubhouse was packed with people catching up while others checked out the facilities in the second building, many being shown around by committee members.
Commodore Alastair Burgess addressed the gathering, giving everyone a brief run down on their journey to this point. This was followed by speeches by Canterbury Yacht Association president Matthew Nolan and Yachting New Zealand board member Viki Moore.
Then it was onto the ribbon cutting at the front steps, with life member Ray O'Brien doing the honours and pronouncing the facilities officially open.
Ray and Nola O’Brien, originally from South Shore in Christchurch, had flown down from their home in Whangarei especially for the opening of the new facilities.
As many as 12 boats took part in the season-opening racing, when a nice easterly settled in, and the sailors enjoyed hot showers and spacious changing facilities.
"All the systems worked well in the new clubrooms with no reports of issues and our expansive kitchen was put through a good test also, proving the layout was up to the task," club spokesman Nigel Humphreys said. "The only thing was coming to grips with how some of the new appliances worked.
"We still have a few things to finish and new systems to work out, but we look forward to the coming season with great anticipation. Next on the list is planning for a new boat shed and starting plans for our 100th year of sailing in 2021."
Anyone interested in checking out the club and new facilities is welcome to visit. Contact Nigel at the Pleasant Point Yacht Club on 0274 352 297 or check out their Facebook page.
