This page presents the transcript of a talk given to members at the 75th Anniversary Function held at the Club rooms on Saturday 13th April 2002 by Frank Davis

Was it 25 years ago that Dave Cook rang me and asked if I would give a talk on the history of Tamaki Yacht Club’s first 50 years? It just shows that yachties age slowly as I still recognise most of you.

In thanking the present Commodore, Sandy Grigg, for his introduction, I believe his family has entered into the history of the club. Sandy’s father, Walter was a member and Vice Patron of the club in the 50’s decade. Sandy has been around for a while (nearly 40 years by my reckoning). His son Giles was a great little Mistral for’ard hand until he gravitated to other classes. Now, a grandson of Sandy and Lynette – 5 year old William du Toit, is a member of Tamaki which makes four generations in one family. I know of the Whites, the Hotchins, the Nortons, the Fultons and the Rogers in the Mistral class have got to three generations and there are probably others in other classes but if anyone can equal or better the Grigg family’s four generations, we would like to hear from them.

In that talk 50 years ago, I was aided by a series of great scrapbooks that Warwick Jackson had compiled. Warwick, though not a foundation member, held the position of Treasurer of the club for 22 years, a record which was only to be broken much later in the club’s history.

The whole Tamaki isthmus was known as Tamaki-makaurau or Tamaki of a hundred lovers. It was so named because it was as fair as a woman for whom a hundred warriors would risk their lives. Its rich volcanic land produced good crops. Its seas were abundant with fish and shellfish. Out in the waters of the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, were many islands where the Tangata Whenua could shelter when caught in a sudden storm when out fishing. This site we are on is steeped in history and those early Maoris (sic) probably got as much fun (and certainly better fishing) from this magnificent stretch of water as we do today.

The Kohimarama Pa was an important fortified pa situated on Bastion Rock and commanded the entrance to the Waitemata.

Fort Bastion was established on Bastion Point in the 1870’s at the time of a scare that “the Russians are coming”. Later a searchlight was installed in the cliff and they then found that Bastion Rock blocked the light and so it had to be removed. Much of that rock was to become the foundation on which Tamaki Yacht Club sits today.

If you can imagine all this area, with its bays and beaches and no waterfront road, you can appreciate that the Eastern suburbs were really “out in the sticks”.

Younger members may not know the important part that ferries played in the early days in Auckland. With wharves at Orakei, Kohimarama and St. Heliers, day-trippers and bach owners would travel by ferry for day picnics, or holidays at the bach. People living permanently in the Eastern Suburbs would use the same water transport traveling to and from the city. The alternative was a long bus ride through Newmarket, Remuera and down St Heliers Bay Road or Kohimarama Road.

It was from the Kohimarama Wharf built out from the point between Mission Bay and Kohi that a group of sailing enthusiasts started yacht races for the local boys and perhaps one or two girls, back in 1926.

The first meeting was held on Sunday, 7th February 1926 in Gray’s hall and sixteen people attended. Mr J. Howley was elected Chairman. It was proposed by Mr. Francis and seconded by Mr.Lovatt that the club be called the “Tamaki Yacht Club”. A committee of ten was elected and Mr. E Tyrrell was appointed Honorary Secretary.

This was six years before the waterfront road was opened and boats were not sitting on trailers waiting to be hitched behind cars to be taken to the beach. They were a heavy sturdy breed and would lay on a mooring or an anchor or were pulled up on one of the many beaches in the area. All would arrive at the starting line off Kohimarama wharf by sea.

The first race was held on Saturday, 27th February 1926 and it was not an auspicious start for the young club. Two yachts ‘Avalon’ and ‘Bronzewing’ capsized on the way to the start and one of the crew of ‘Avalon’ was drowned. Another yacht ‘Gladys’ broke her gaff which left only three yachts to start in the race which was won by the yacht ‘Kismet’.

Tamaki would have a few keel boats sailing as well as the 26 foot and 22 foot mullet boats. There were the V class unrestricted 18 footers, the forerunner of the later light flyers but built like all decent yachts in those days, of solid kauri. There was also the S class which was a 16 foot smaller version of the V class.

There was a relatively new class – an eighteen footer with sail area restricted to 250 square feet in its working sails. It was just five years old and was called the M class affectionately “an emmy” and which is still sailing over 50 years later.

There were three classes of 14 footers – the T class a round bilge yacht; the Y class which was a chine boat, easily built by back yarders and the X class which was probably the prima donna of all New Zealand classes at that time. There were some great inter-provincial tussles to become the holder of the Sanders Cup in the X class – the premier trophy for centreboard yachting in New Zealand then.

Also racing were the 12 foot 8 inch zeddies which were a two- man chine hulled yacht with gunter rig that young people could go into after leaving the P class. So popular was the class that in the 1940’s and early 50’s there would be well over 100 zeddies racing in two divisions on Auckland Anniversary Regatta day.

In the early days of Tamaki they held races for outboard motor boats, rowing skiffs and model yachts. One story for the fizz boat owners here. A newspaper report stated that one Saturday when there was a stiff nor-easterly blowing, the races for outboard motorboats would be transferred to Panmure Basin. It didn’t state if the model yachts would be transferred also!

The early officers read like a who’s who of early Auckland. Mr Joseph Hill who had started the paint and wallpaper firm of Hill and Plummer, was the first Patron. He was followed in 1931 by Mr. Ernest Davis, later Sir Ernest and Mayor of Auckland. He was a keen yachtsman and a great benefactor of the sport. He held the position of Patron of the club for 32 years.

The first President was Mr. W P Endean who was a solicitor and MP for Parnell. He held the position for 32 years.

The first Commodore was Mr. John W. Andrew who started the well known motor firm and agent for Ford cars. He was one of the original members of the club. He held the position for only one year.

He was succeeded by a man who has played one of the most important roles in the life of Tamaki Yacht Club, Mr. W A Wilkinson – known to all as “Wilkie”. He contributed articles on yachting under the pen name of “Speedwell”, he ran a small printing business in Exchange Lane off Queen Street and printed the weekly yachting programme and race results.

I don’t think he would ever get any work done on Friday as yachties would pop in and pick up their programmes and, like yachties everywhere, stop and talk “boats”. He was one of the great enthusiasts for yachting and his span as the chief Flag Officer of Tamaki lasted 22 years.

Another great stalwart of the club would undoubtedly be Eddie Haynes. He was Secretary of the club from 1938 to 1952, except for one year, Commodore from 1953 to 1963 and President from 1963 to 1975 – spanning 37 years his enthusiasm for yacht racing saw him as first a delegate to the Auckland Yachting Association and later Chairman for many years.

Warwick Jackson was to join the club a few years after it was formed. He sailed a zeddie he had built himself and later became Treasurer of the club, a position he held for 22 years. It was due to his sterling qualities as well as his enthusiasm that the financing of the original clubhouse was brought about.

You may be interested in some of the people racing with the club in those early days. The Chamberlains from Ponui Island raced their famous emmy ‘Manu’ at the club. It was later to win the world 18 footer championships against the Australians in 1938.

A young man called Bob Stewart was also racing his M class ‘Manene’. He was one of our first international yachtsmen, sailing a Dragon in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He was virtually unbeatable in his K class ‘Helen’ and also was the designer of the Stewart 34 yachts.

Another young man who sailed in the V class was Bernie Schmidt and he represented us in a world 18 footer contest in Sydney with his yacht ‘Riptide’ and later designed, built and raced the A class keeler “Innismara”.

In 1932 the new Wakatere class started to race at Tamaki. It was a 14 foot skimmer class designed by John Brooke and was probably one of the earliest classes to be built of plywood. They were the boat for the ‘do it yourself kiwi’ and there were forty sailing at the end of 1932-33 season. But there was a problem marine ply was not yet available and water does terrible things to ordinary plywood and it was this which probably brought about the end of the class.

It was about this time that an item of one pound for rent of the Bastion Point site appeared in the accounts. The Club had been successful in obtaining from the government a 21 year lease of the point for the purpose of erecting a clubhouse. In May 1934 tenders were called and Rabone Builders got the job for what seems a bargain price today – the equivalent of $2824.

The prize nights and social functions had been held in the Imperial Theatre, Kohimarama. One old advertisement states “dancing 8 pm till midnight with Elsie Nixon’s Gala Girls’ band in attendance. Sounds as though Elsie Nixon and her girls were well and truly liberated back in the 30’s!

The new clubhouse was opened on Saturday 8th December 1934. I think the club officers and members could feel justifiably proud of themselves in acquiring such a clubhouse after only 9 years.

The club even got into investing its money into that uncertain investment area, the theatre. £84 was put into the staging of “Runnymede”. At the same time a beauty pageant was held and Tamaki Yacht Club was represented by Marie White. I believe she is here tonight. Can we have a hand for our beauty queen of the past – Marie White.

It was in 1935 that Tamaki was chosen to run the Sanders Cup X class contest, which was New Zealand’s most prestigious yachting event. In January 1939 it was reported that 104 yachts competed at Tamaki’s regatta and that 200 members and friends were entertained in the clubhouse.

It was in 1940 that the Frostbite class joined the racing at Tamaki. It was also designed by John Brooke from Wakatere Boating Club. By the end of that season it was the strongest class racing at Tamaki.

But war was now upon us – a real war this time and at the end of 1941 with Japan in the war, the Defence Department notified the club that it was necessary for them to occupy the site.

With many of the young men joining up and going overseas the old stalwarts kept the racing going for those still too young for the services.

But it was not until 1947 before the clubhouse was officially re-opened. We had two more small classes sailing – the ‘Idle Along’ designed by Mr. Alf Harvey for the strong conditions of Wellington. It was designed in 1934 and with a beam of nearly 6 feet. It could also be used by two people (or more) to do some cruising.

The other was the pretty Silver Fern designed by Arch Logan and was like a little 12 foot Emmy.

But the 50s were on us where we would see more changes in the racing classes in the next 10 years than in the previous 25 years of the club

It was in 1952 that the Committee approved the building of a 30 foot patrol boat. It was designed by Peter Willetts and built by Jim Young. It was commissioned by our patron, Sir Ernest Davis in 1953 and has been a much admired and hard working vessel ever since. The old girl will soon be 50 and has worn extremely well. I believe she has recently had a new engine installed but more importantly, she now has a “head”.

It was the 1956 Melbourne Olympics which was to make New Zealand yachtsmen start to take an interest in international classes. It was Peter Mander and Jack Cropp winning our first yachting Olympic gold medal that was the catalyst for other yachtsmen thinking “perhaps we can beat them”.

Don St. Clair Brown, Ian Pryde and others brought the Flying Dutchman class to Auckland and soon there was a small but strong racing fleet. The Olympic monotype class, the Finn, also became popular and both these classes raced at Tamaki and provided some exciting viewing for the shore-bound watchers.

But there were two young New Zealanders who were making their own revolution on the yachting scene. One was John Spencer who designed the 12 foot Cherub. This light easily constructed yacht which the ‘do-it-yourselfer’ could build cheaply from sheet ply. Add to it a bendy mast and a trapeze and it opened up a whole new world of exhilarating sailing for teenagers and hundreds of them were built all over New Zealand. The Cherubs were incorporated into the racing fleet at Tamaki in 1955. John Spencer was to repeat this success with the bigger and more powerful 14 foot Javelin which would later sail for the coveted Sanders Cup after the demise of the X class.

The other young man was Des Townson who brought out his 11 foot “Zephyr” monotype. This was an entirely new concept because all the hulls were built by Des from the same mould which gave people hulls as closely similar as possible. Several hundred of these were built and a strong fleet of them sailed at Tamaki.

Des later designed the “Mistral” as a parent and child class where dad or mum could introduce their children into sailing by sailing with them. Tamaki became the “family club” and there seemed to be more “littlies” running round than adults. The class grew and for many years was the strongest racing class at Tamaki, peaking at over 50 yachts sailing in the championship series.

It was in 1957 that the Zephyr class sought permission to form an Owners’ Association and this was agreed to. This was to become standard procedure whereby the various classes would control all matters pertaining to the class.

1959 saw the entry of the 12 foot “Kitty” catamaran class sailing with the Club. Whatever the reason the class was to reach a peak and slide into oblivion in a decade.

It was in 1963 that Tamaki Yacht Club had a couple of important visitors. Yes, the Queen and the Duke paid us a visit while on their royal tour of NZ. The Duke had to officiate in starting one of the races for the Royal Regatta. Some of you were probably in the race. At the crucial moment the gun wouldn’t work. Luckily someone pulled the other trigger and the race started albeit a few seconds late. No I don’t think they “pinged” anyone for being over the line!!

Another story was told that the ladies had gone to extraordinary lengths to make cakes, sandwiches and sausage rolls for a royal afternoon tea. Prince Philip, who had probably overstayed his time up in the tower watching the racing, is reported to have said (and I could be wrong) ‘oh, we haven’t got time for all this nonsense!!” and the Royal party departed for its next engagement, leaving all that wonderful food!! The young yachties probably thought all their birthdays had come at once!!

1964 brought the Club its first ever Olympic gold medal when Helmer Pederson and Earle Wells won the Flying Dutchman class at Tokyo. You may not know that we have flown an Olympic flag at Tamaki. Helmer brought one back and presented it to the club and it was flown on the first race day that Helmer sailed at the club again.

The 1960s brought the necessity of improving the original clubhouse which had served the club well but was badly in need of some tender loving care. The hall was completely renovated and altered to allow a catering firm to operate which would bring in an income to the club to provide for further car parking and launching facilities. It was completed and let to Lantau Receptions in 1967. It was called “Romfords”.

Through the generous assistance of the late Sir Noel and Lady Cole the reclamation and new launching ramp was completed which was a great asset to the club as car parking had always been difficult.

The Club membership had grown and soon the Commodore’s Lounge needed enlarging and the members had to put up with just one season’s chaos before they could enjoy one of the finest clubrooms and seascapes that any yacht club anywhere could have. It was opened in July 1973.

A new yacht was to burst upon the New Zealand scene which was to cause another revolution in yachting. It brought about what we might call “instant sailing”. You pushed an unrigged mast through a sleeve in the mainsail, rove your mainsheet, fastened your rudder, slid your yacht into the water and went sailing. It was called a Laser. It was the easiest boat for a beginner to sail in 5 to 10 knots but in 20 knots it called for great expertise. It became very popular at Tamaki and attracted many top quality yachtsmen to its ranks, many of whom have achieved successes at national and international level.

It was an ideal international class and it was probably this yacht which brought about “masters sailing” where keen yachting people could compete nationally and internationally in age groups well past the age that most of us think is the retiring age for centreboard sailing.

A major improvement to Tamaki in 1982 was the renewal of the Romford’s lease for a 15 year term. The club received a capital sum which, with funds in hand, enabled them to pay for a new sewer line from the Clubhouse to Mission Bay and though not shown in our balance sheet, proved to be one of the most important of assets. It was not an “intangible asset” but it was certainly an ‘unseen” one.

It was in 1984 that the original tenant of Romfords, Ray Ah Chee, retired from running that very popular reception lounge and assigned the lease to Ron Hayes. Ray had been a popular figure around the club for 18 years and we were sad to see him go.

The 1980’s saw the establishment of a winter series of races and these became as popular as the summer races, attracting 60 yachts.

Towards the end of the 1980’s a sailing school was started with financial assistance from Commercial Union Insurance and Gavin Agnew was appointed sailing master. The school used Phase Twos and Lasers in its sailing instruction.

The club had built up an excellent team for running regattas and the 1990’s saw the club hosting world and national championships for many, many different classes. And also Olympicsail.

The 1994/1995 season was memorable in that two of Tamaki’s members achieved prestigious appointments.

David Cook, member of Tamaki for over 35 years was appointed President of the NZ Yachting Federation. This was a just reward for Dave’s many years dedicated work in the interests of yachting, with the Zephyr class, Tamaki Yacht Club, Auckland Yachting Association and the Federation.

The late Roger Craddock was named NZ Yachtsman of the Year. He had won the World Flying Fifteen Championship – as well as three Mistral championships – Roger could do nothing less than his best and also did sterling work in the committee room where he was regarded as an expert on the yacht racing rules.

There was another revolution in sailing with the advent of a surfboard with a sail – the windsurfer. It could be carried on a car roof rack and be sailing in minutes. I recall coming down to Tamaki for a meeting on a Sunday afternoon. It was blowing 35 knots from the north east with the consequent big seas. There were half a dozen people rigging up windsurfers. “They’re mad!” I said, “to be going out in these conditions!” but when I saw them in action I realised that I was watching experts and I marvelled at their skill as they drove up off the big waves and sailed these little craft at phenomenal speeds with their bodies almost horizontal with the sea. It was no wonder then that New Zealand would later achieve Olympic and World Championship medals in this class with Barbara and Bruce Kendall, Aaron McIntosh, and others.

But I wonder if the windsurfer was not detrimental to yacht clubs. Many young people who may have joined yacht clubs to take up sailing, now found that they could have fun easily on their own or with a few friends.

But it was possibly the passing of the “New Zealand weekend” into history that has seen the fall-off of centreboard sailing. Many more people now work in the weekends and those that don’t seem to have as their sporting entertainment – things like “shopping” and “supping lattes or long blacks”.

Tamaki Yacht Club has carried on, against the odds. They have continued to improve their facilities. They have successfully negotiated a new lease with the Department of Conservation for this wonderful site that the clubhouse sits on. This historic site where Māori tribe battled Māori tribe; where guns were installed for the rumour of war and for a real war. This site has also looked out on some fierce battles on the water of yacht against yacht. Of striving to sail over the top of an opponent or trying to establish a safe leeward position.

It has seen battles for survival when a strong nor-easter or sou- westerly made yacht racing a very, very difficult pastime indeed and the warm showers and post-race drinks in the clubhouse, were the most welcome anticipations for the cold, tired sailor.

I have mentioned a few names, but it is always a danger to name some of the many people who have helped Tamaki Yacht Club over the years. It is impossible to name them all and there is always the danger of leaving out someone who has done sterling work over many years.

Before doing so, I would like to pay a tribute to an old friend of mine – the late Ron Norton. Ron joined the club as a schoolboy in 1940. He sailed in Frostbites, Zephyrs, Finns and Mistrals. He was honoured by the club in 1990 with a special presentation for having been a sailing member of Tamaki Yacht Club for 50 years. It must be a record in New Zealand yachting history that a person has sailed small centreboard yachts with all the physical effort that entails, for over half a century continuously.

No one can argue with the effort that Tamaki patrol boat skipper, Terry Wellacott put in on behalf of this club from the 1960’s decade through to the 1990’s decade. It was tremendous dedication, for it was not just a Saturday afternoon effort, but when national contests were on, the whole weekend. On behalf of the club, I would like to pay tribute to him and also to Diane Wellacott. Diane supported Terry and was often helping out on Tamaki herself. Many a good yachtsman was put off his sailing when Tamaki came close and he saw Diane sunbathing in her bikini. But for the Wellacotts it was a real family affair because Craig Wellacott started helping Terry from quite a young age and put in many years work on Tamaki patrol.

And, of course, no history of the Tamaki Yacht Club would be complete without mentioning “Mr. Tamaki” himself, Tony Beckett. Tony was a young teenager sailing Mistral number 20 when I joined the Club in 1963. I recall having a run-in with him over the sailing rules of which I am sure he is far more expert now than when he was a teenager!!

He took on the Secretary-Treasurership of the club in the 1967/68 season and all members owe him a great deal of gratitude for all he has done for this club for the last 35 years. Apart from looking after the finances of the club, he has run contests, driven patrol boats and I don’t think anyone other than Tony himself really knows what he has done for Tamaki Yacht Club.

Tony, on behalf of all the members, I would like to thank you for the great effort you have put in over so many years for this club and for yacht racing generally.

I would like to conclude with a tribute to the many, many people who have served this yacht club over now 76 years.

It really is the same tribute I wrote in a little history of the Kohimarama Yacht Club for their 50 years anniversary.

75 years of endeavour has come to an end. It has been 75 years of groups of enthusiastic people providing the means by which young people (and some not so young) can get the sea into their blood. For 75 years the same sort of people, though as various in themselves as people always are, yet linked with that same idea that there is something inherently wholesome in sailing.

For 75 years these people have had a faith that, in teaching young people to pit themselves against the wind and the sea, they will help them to achieve qualities that will help them in living life itself. For like life, the wind and the sea are sometimes soft and easy, sometimes extremely harsh and difficult.

There is also the learning of the joy in sailing and the joy in living. That surge of the spirit when the yacht lifts onto the plane, the joy that comes when the perfect “safe leeward” has been achieved. That joy when the yacht is eased round the stern of a starboard yacht shouting for his “rights” and laying the finish line to beat him. The joy in one’s own achievement, whatever one’s finishing position in the race, because you know you have given your best.

We hope that those same people – only their faces will be different will be there over the next 75 years to still provide yacht racing at Tamaki Yacht Club. Thank you for being patient – it is difficult to cover 75 years without taking a little time. I hope to be still around in another 25 years time – see you all then.