There are some big celebrations taking place in Takapuna next year when the Takapuna Boating Club turns 100. The Takapuna Beach-based club celebrates being a century old on Waitangi Day next year, February 6th, the exact date of the the inaugural meeting of the Takapuna Boating Club. They are making a weekend of it.

Ray Welson is the chair of the Takapuna Boating Club Centennial Committee. His great-grandfather, “Skipper Crossley”,  actually held the first meeting of the Boat Club.

"I think we can assume that all meetings commencing in 1913, prior to the war, were held in my great-grandfather Skipper Crossley’s boat shed,” explains Ray. "In February 1914, at a meeting held in his shed it was decided to form a club to be called the Bayswater Boating Club. Then, on February 6th 1920, again at a meeting held in his shed, it was decided to form a boating club to be called the Takapuna Boating Club. Hence that is considered the inaugural meeting of the Takapuna Boating Club. The first actual meeting of the club was held four days later on February 10th and on February 12th the new rules of the club were drafted.”

Names present at that February 6th 1920 meeting were Mr M. Forsyth (Chair), the name Takapuna Boating Club was proposed by Mr Abercrombie, seconded by Mr T. Roberts. Others in attendance were those by the name of Fieldsend, Bach, Fortzer, Bodle, Crosher and Aldred.

Later, in October 1920, the Takapuna Boating Club committee was confirmed as Mr M. Forsyth (Commodore), J Bodle (vice-Commodore), FN Abercrombie (rear-Commodore), J. Peters (Treasurer), J. Pavitt (Secretary), H.B. Fraser (Auditor), A. St Clair Brown (Honorary Solicitor), and committee members were T. Roberts, H. Bach, A. Powell, F. Skerrett, G.H. Parker, C. Barton and C. Brinsden.

In the years prior to those 1920 official beginnings, there was informal racing and club activities and an annual picnic. But the club lapsed due to numbers dwindling as a result of the first world war.

In 1920 the Takapuna Boating Club negotiated with the Auckland Harbour Board for the mooring area west of Bayswater Wharf, sited where the Bayswater Marina is today. On March 9th 1920 the Takapuna Boating Club guaranteed 35 pounds per annum to Auckland Harbour Board for interest on a loan to dredge the Bayswater boat harbour. The final cost of this was 550 pounds.

In 1921 the new Z-Class yacht was designed and built by Robert Brown. In 1923 the club made its first steps to getting a clubhouse at Bayswater with the purchase of the Ireland's Tannery buildings at Panmure on the Tamaki River. The building cost 310 pounds and took five months to rebuild on the site at Bayswater and another two years to be finished, in 1925.

In 1924, the Cornwall Cup event was first sailed in January and was won by D Mackay and A Robb.

The Takapuna Boating Club clubhouse was very popular and in that original form was used as a venue for dances, boxing, library, school events, ladies mornings, roller skating as well as for yachting right through until 1963. The dances stopped following the Harbour Bridge being opened in 1959 as the ferry service from Bayswater to Auckland City ceased operating.

In 1965 a new patrol boat was built to a design by Alf Lock. New yacht classes were also becoming popular, such as the Finn, Flying Dutchman and other plywood classes. With an Olympic sailing course being essential, the club need a large circle of clear water which Shoal Bay, near Bayswater, didn’t have. It was very tidal and was also home to many moored yachts and launches.

So the decision was made to move racing to off Takapuna Beach, using the beach house at the Mon Desir Hotel and then the patrol boatshed on the parking area off The Promenade. Takapuna Boating Club sailed off Takapuna Beach with catamarans, mono hulls from 1969 through until the present that now includes windsurfers, paddlers, paddle boards and both plain and foiling kite boards. The council worked hard to find the club a new home at Takapuna once the sailing was taking place off Takapuna Beach, but this didn’t eventuate until 1990.

In 1990 a lease was signed by the club on 119 Hurstmere Road, and with everyone mucking in with voluntary labour the building was painted, the second floor repaired and new changing rooms with showers were installed on the ground floor.

In the year 2000 the marina was finished next to the Bayswater clubhouse, there was a sail loft on the top floor and the junior Optimist programme was changed to an adult Learn to Sail programme in Mirror dinghies. The haulage area to the east of the clubhouse became a public park.

In 2002 the new Takapuna Boating Club clubhouse started on Takapuna Beach at 39 The Strand. It was three levels. The new facility included boat and gear storage with social areas and office space for helpers. In 2009 a two story addition was added to the northern side of the Takapuna clubhouse at The Strand. The club’s membership has now extended to include Waka Ama and social members.

Any people interested in attending the Takapuna Boating Club Centenary Celebrations should register via the website. They have an extensive programme scheduled for the weekend that is outlined below.

For more information visit: www.takapunaboating.org.nz

 

Programme Takapuna Boating Club Centennial Celebrations
and Candida Stationery Regatta, February 2020

Thursday 6th February (Waitangi Day)
2pm Foiling racing
3pm Paddling race
4pm Centenary Celebration for all
5pm Dedication of the Geoff Smale Lounge

Friday 7th February
Clubhouse open 12 noon onwards
4pm Happy hour and platters
6.30pm Usual Friday night jackpot draw

Saturday 8th February
Surf ski Race
11am Traditional Yacht Classes Racing
4pm Happy Hour and platters

Sunday 9th February
11am Traditional yacht classes racing
2pm Centennial Luncheon for all
Followed by Candida Stationery Regatta prize giving