About us
Waikato based sailing club-meetings monthly at Hamilton Yacht Club. Cruising and racing events for yacht owners are organised from October to May around the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, cruises to Great Barrier and the Mercury Islands. Trailer yachts are based at Kawakawa Bay Auckland; Keelers are based at at Pine Harbour Marina.
Our programme
Safe family sailing
Our first and foremost objective is to encourage and support safe family sailing - both cruising and racing. Our members love to help other members, both new and old alike, from help with launching, where to sail, how to reef, good anchorages or anchoring techniques or joining in for a cruise, race or day sail. We are a group of people that sail, happy to share our sailing knowledge and encourage new squadron members. If you're new to sailing, trailer sailers or keelers, or just thinking about joining we'd love to have you along.
Sailing the Hauraki Gulf
Most of our sailing activities are based in the Hauraki Gulf and originate either from Kawakawa Bay where the Squadron operates a secure compound trailer yacht parking area, or Pine Harbour Marina where many of the club members with keelers have their yachts moored.
Races
Our Races are as intense or relaxed as you want them to be, you can choose to start a little back from the line and treat it as a relaxed cruise to the destination, or vie for a slick start and give the other boats a run for their money. Our races end in a nice bay close to the race finish and sheltered from the wind where possible for a friendly BBQ and prizegiving.
Sail CruisingTrailer sailers and keelers are like caravans on water, and we like to get out and make a weekend of it or more. We usually run a good number of weekend sailing cruising events where you can treat it as a race or just cruise to a destination. These include sailing around Ponui, various bays around Waiheke, Motuihe Island and Rangitoto Island. There's often a social BBQ on the beach in the afternoon, and most members will sleep overnight on their boat at anchor. Many members also get out to other Islands in the gulf and beyond including Rotoroa, Rakino, Tiritiri Matangi. Coromandel and the various islands up that coast are another common destination, with an Easter Coromandel cruise one of our highlights.
Where possible and able to get time off, we will look to take a week long cruise, often to Great Barrier or Mercury Island. Many members also go further afield including trips to Tauranga, Whangarei, Bay of Islands and even across Cook Strait. Sailing with a number of boats provides a greater element of safety and a social element should you wish. For details of this years events check out our
Calendar page.
Monthly SocialOur monthly social meeting, Nog n Natter, is held in the Hamilton Yacht Club from 7:30 PM on the fourth Tuesday of most months. These gatherings are relaxed and allow you to meet other sailors over a coffee and biscuit. We usually incorporate a structured talk with a guest speaker that will provide insightful information on one or a number of sailing and Squadron affairs.
What you need to know
See website or contact for more information.