Briar Cook

When I joined at the start of the 2019/20 season, I had been sailing a handful of times as a passenger, and I knew next to nothing. First, several members immediately invited me to sail with them - this practice continues and every time I learn something new. Then, when I finally mustered the confidence to hire a Club dingy, many hours of support and assistance were available to ensure my sailing experience was a success.

The more I sail the more determined I am to keep sailing. I am super thankful to have found PPYC when I did. Even though I didn't have a boat, experience or even the right clothing, the egalitarian nature of this particular club ensured that I was made welcome. The generosity of the more experienced sailors in sharing their knowledge has meant great conversations after sailing in the club rooms.

I totally recommend my club to anyone who has ever thought they might want to sail.

Who knows - maybe it will be me that takes you out on the water!

Briar

Murray Hay

I have been a member of Pleasant Point since 1968 holding committee and flag officer positions and raced in many different classes of yachts.

I have always found the club to be a family friendly place to be with members willing to give assistance and advice when required which can be very helpful particularly when first starting out.

The estuary is a great place to sail and with Pleasant Point having a new clubhouse and facilities we really are spoilt for choice.

On sailing days many of us race but equally, some prefer to social sail, and when back on shore we meet and mingle in the clubhouse after perhaps having a lovely hot shower.

The club is blossoming and with steadily increasing membership numbers I am sure the future for the club is indeed bright.

Murray Hay

Arthur Mahon

For me, my sailing journey started after an end-of-school-year fun sailing day with Simon Rutherford (KORE).

After this experience, I decided to spend a week learning more of the basics with Simon over the holidays. It was Simon who introduced me to PPYC, and I have been here ever since.

Over the next few years I have continued to improve my skills sailing a Firebug (Aphid). It has been great to have the help of so many long standing members of the club, as they all know so much and are so keen to pass it on to willing new sailors.

Since my move to high school, I have been involved in the school “Teams Racing” team. Just recently over the past month I have travelled with my team to Nelson for Regional Champs and Algies Bay for Nationals. There are so many pathways that you can go down with sailing. As Yachting New Zealand say, it really is a “sport for life”! The friendliness of everyone, the brilliant new clubrooms and the great sailing conditions on the Estuary make sailing here so enjoyable!

Thank you to everyone at PPYC for all their help and support, it would not have been possible without them, in particular Graeme Hore and Dan O’Sullivan.

Thanks, 

Arthur