Pleasant Point Yacht Club's Centennial year … are you a past member?

2020 - Pleasant Point Yacht Club is due to celebrate its centennial next year © Pleasant Point Yacht Club

Pleasant Point Yacht Club, located in the South New Brighton Park in Christchurch will celebrate 100 years of sailing on the Christchurch Estuary in February next year and we are looking to make contact with previous members and extend an invitation to them to attend the Club's Centennial Celebrations.

The Club began in 1921 on the shores of the Estuary in an area known then as Pleasant Point Domain. Originally just called the Boat Club, it took up the name Pleasant Point Boating Club in the summer of 1924.

In 1929 the Club moved across to the western shore to an area of mud flats at the moth of the Avon River that would become known as Rat Island.

Here the Club stayed, building and improving the land and the Club facilities over the years and sailing a summer long programme of racing and events. That was until the first of the Canterbury earthquakes on September 4th damaged the buildings and land beyond repair.

It took nine long years to find a new site and rebuild, but the Club is back on a site in the South New Brighton Park with brand new facilities opened in September 2019 that are just a stones throw from where it all began in 1921. The club lost all their land and facilities in the September 2010 earthquake but now with a new club house and soon to be built boat storage shed, Pleasant Point Yacht Club is looking forward to celebrating its 100 years of sailing on Waitangi Weekend 2021 and is looking to make contact with as many past members as we can.

1931 - Pleasant Point Yacht Club is due to celebrate its centennial next year - photo © Pleasant Point Yacht Club

The centennial celebrations will a great opportunity to relive the highs and lows of the Club's 100 years, especially the last nine years of re-build.

The Centennial will be held on Waitangi Weekend 2021, with a Noggin 'n Natter on the Friday evening, then on Saturday, the Club's main open event the Sullivan Cup, will be sailed, coupled with another trophy, the Arch Lamb trophy for the Sunburst Class.

Saturday's sailing will be followed by a Celebration dinner at the Clubrooms in the evening.

On the Sunday, the Club will run its Classic Yacht Race, first sailed at the Club's 75th celebrations. This will be coupled with a display of classic boats of all types owned by the members of the Classic Boat Group of Canterbury. Supporting this, the Club hopes to have local classic and vintage cars on display, so there will be plenty for the public to see.

Afternoon tea and prize-giving will follow this.

If you or anyone you know has been a member of Pleasant Point Yacht Club over the years, please contact the Club at ppyc100years@gmail.com or contact Ian Douglas on 0274719208