Our History
We’ve been sailing off the beautiful East Coast of Hawke’s Bay since 1891 - making us one of the oldest sailings clubs in New Zealand. We’re also one of the most active and largest sailing clubs outside of the main metro areas! Keep reading to find out how we got to where we are today!
The Beginning
The Napier Sailing Club was formed on Monday 16th February 1891. The first race was held the next Saturday, 10 yachts took part.
1931 Earthquake
The great earthquake on 3rd February, 1931, reaching 7.9 on the Richter Scale, was an absolute disaster. The yachting waters of the inner harbour was almost entirely converted to dry land. Yachts were forced to sail in the open sea.
1939
In July 1939 permission was obtained from the Harbour Board to erect a shed at Scapa Flow. After some debate the new club kept the old name of “Napier Sailing Club”. Donors of cups and trophies to the old club re-donated these to the new club; many of these are still raced for today. In 1939 the club as we know it today on its present site, begun.
1951 - 1981
1951 saw the beginning of building clubrooms, which were completed in 1952, mostly by voluntary labour. The clubrooms as they stand today were started in 1968, again built largely by voluntary labour. However in 1974 it was obvious that the new clubrooms were too small. The Clubhouse extension was completed in 1981.