First sailors take to the water

04 Oct, 2021

JULIA WADE

Spring turned on its seasonal magic recently for the maiden sailing voyage of local youth, billowing the sails and providing calm waters for the budding sailors as they set out for the first time on the estuary’s waters.

Instigated in May this year by members of Maungaturoto Rotary Club and supported by Mangawhai Boating & Fishing Club, the Mangawhai Rotary Junior Sailing Club (MRJSC) held their opening classes on September 28 and 29, with local children trialling the new Optimist dinghies on the water after an initial land-based lesson.

MRJSC spokesperson Dennis Emsley, who secured a generous $20,000 grant for the club from the Wright Family Foundation, says the first day was ‘a great turnout’.

“It was great to see the kids enjoying themselves. Big thanks to everyone who made the Rotary ‘Learn to Sail’ project happen, especially Grahame, Wayne, Jeannette and Pat, and the Wright Family Foundation, Jay Thompson-Milne, Kaipara council and all the others for their kind donations.”