Information for New Members

Access

Head to the bottom of Lorenzen Bay Road and park anywhere in the cul-de-sac.

You will see a causeway that is accessible an hour before/after high tide – use the white markers to cross the channel at high tide.

See image below.

Look for the yellow cottage on the other side of the causeway. You will also see the Raglan Sailing Club sign.
The yellow cottage is a private residence, please respect their privacy.
The club area follows the stone driveway.

Facilities:

• Toilet

• Shower

• Wash Down Station

COMMODORE’S REPORT 2026

MEMBERSHIP

This year our paid membership was 14 individuals and 29 families, which was more than double the previous season. Thank you to all who have paid, as it always helps with the ongoing running costs of the club.

Spectators and sailors from all over the world have loved the experience of sailing in the harbour and enjoying the bay vibes. We want to keep it real as a community family club, with new members always welcome.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Our season started on Saturday, 11 October, with a huge turnout for Open Day. Approximately 50 people attended, and all the boats were out enjoying the nice westerly breeze. I was on light duties and part of the shore party due to a back injury.

Thanks to Jason for taking out Waka Tere and giving people a great experience on our traditional kauri cutter. Matt and Amy were on Billie Blue, giving adults and kids a taste of sailing a trailer sailor. Meanwhile, Harry was busy on the rescue boat retrieving a catamaran that had capsized and filled with water by the wharf.

Everyone had a fun time and made it safely back to the bay. Thanks also to Brian on the BBQ for feeding all the hungry sailors and spectators.

Harry and I started a Learn to Sail programme on Sunday, 26 October, teaching adults and kids the basics of boat handling and seamanship. For the last sailing session, we decided to all sail across the harbour to Te Akau, with the parents included. We made it to the beach and had a picnic and a swim.

It was great to see everyone practising safety techniques, showing confidence in the water and helping each other. As we sailed back across the channel, there was a houseboat cruising into the fleet and navigating only by camera and video. Next minute, he was on a collision course and hit an Opti with no intention of giving way! He apologised and said that he hadn’t seen them. Luckily, there was no damage, although the young girls were a little shaken up. They continued to sail back into the bay.

The programme was very popular and a big success, and I hope to run another one next season.

The Multihull Race was held on 7 March, with a few sailing dinghies joining in the fun. We managed to finish three races in a nice 10 to 15-knot westerly breeze.

Congratulations to Chris Rayner and Simon Thomson on Tricky Princess 2, a Hobie 18, taking first place. Well done to Harry and Alex Carter in second place on Blammo, a Hydra 16, and I came in third on the Windrider 14 ft trimaran.

Thank you to Hai An and Marty for running the races aboard Billie Blue and making it back into the bay before the propeller came off the engine! We were lucky to find it in the mud when the tide went out. Thanks also to Kerry and Rod for setting the marks and standing by in the safety boat, keeping a lookout.

Thank you to Jason on the BBQ, filling the bellies of the sailors while everyone shared stories around the fire, finishing off another successful and fun event.

We hosted our eighth Regatta on 21 and 22 March 2026. We had 30 registered sailors and 20 boats out on both days.

Saturday brought clear, sunny skies, with a 10 to 15-knot westerly sea breeze filling in. The course was set out in the channel and up into Moonlight Bay. We completed four great races, and it was cool to see the competitive racing between the Optis and the Bics, with a lot of lead changes.

It was a calm, misty morning on Sunday, and as the tide came in, the shore crew were setting up and spotted a pod of orca cruising up the channel. The sailors arrived, and the word was out that whales were in the harbour.

As they set up their boats, eyes were peeled out in the bay, hoping to see these beautiful, majestic animals and witness them in their natural habitat. We all headed out to the start line around 11:30 am in a light 10-knot westerly wind and finished two races.

On the third race, the tide had turned and was on its way out when suddenly shouts rang out: “Orca are here!” They came close to the coast and were following a few boats. Charlie was trailing her hand in the water when an orca swam up and touched her hand, rolled over and looked at her before diving down.

It was amazing to see the mother teaching her babies to dive and learn to navigate and hunt for food.

We all returned safely to the bay and de-rigged the boats, ready for prize-giving. Everyone was fizzing — normally it’s over the epic prizes, but this time the talk was all about the orca encounter! Stories were flowing, and everyone left with big smiles and a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience on Raglan Harbour.

Huge thanks to Sue, Gus and Marty on the committee boat, Billie Blue, for running the races and prize-giving. Thanks to Maurice, Barb and Hai An on the safety boats. Thanks also to the Hamilton crew who ran their safety boat, and T.V. for setting out the buoys and standing by.

Thank you to all the shore crew who made it all run smoothly, and to all the parents and volunteers who helped by providing food, drinks, awesome energy and enthusiasm to make it another fun-filled, successful regatta.

Last of all, I would like to give a massive shout-out to our sponsors: Burnsco, Trek and Travel, Road and Sport Motorcycles, Raglan Roast, Raglan 4 Square, Top Cut Butcher and Little Hill Studios.

Congratulations to Atch on winning the Best Sportsmanship Cup, donated by Little Hill Studios.

On Saturday, 4 April, we had our picnic day with a light east-northeast breeze. More than 20 sailors were out, and eight trailer sailors joined us.

It was tricky sailing in light airs and shifty conditions, but we all managed to sail to the beach past the ski lane. It was great to see the determination and perseverance from everyone who made it to the beach for a nice picnic and swim.

We all returned to the bay with the easterly holding and a sweet reach close to the coast on another picture-perfect day.

Meanwhile, in New Plymouth, the Optimist Nationals were taking place. Charlie Livernois Bui was competing, and she took line honours and was first in the Open Opti 11-years-and-under female category. A massive achievement — congratulations on your victory. Well done!

We finished the season on Saturday, 2 May 2026, on a chilly, misty morning. I started the fire, and it was roaring by 9:00 am. Sailors arrived, we all set up and then drifted out into the bay.

As we were waiting for the sea breeze, the waka ama paddled up in a long line towards Sugarloaf. One hundred waka were counted, and the competition looked fierce as they raced back to the finish line.

A light easterly wind lifted us back into the bay, and we were treated to burgers and sausages thanks to Brian’s BBQ skills and the shore crew for keeping the fire burning.

It was great to listen to the conversations of the sailors as they talked about how much they had learned and how much they loved the fun of being out there!

FUNDING AND FUNDRAISING

There have been no applications for funding yet, but we are in the process of following this up. Fundraising has not happened for a long time, but we are always open to suggestions if anyone is keen to organise something and make it work.

DONATIONS AND PURCHASES

Our little red donation box still generates koha from spectators and sailors from all over the world who love the experience in the bay.

We purchased a new aluminium Laser trailer from Nick at Hydro Lab, and Barry donated the tyres.

Thanks to Tom Seddon, we have a brand-new second-hand engine for Billie Blue. It is a Yamaha 8 hp long-shaft and runs well. Thank you to Andrew for servicing the engine and installing a new starter motor on the safety boat.

We hauled out Waka Tere on 16 May 2026 and are painting, staining and carrying out a few repairs. The materials have been expensive, but thanks to our volunteers, our labour of love is free.

We have also been working on the Optimists, and they are looking smart with a new paint job. Thanks to Star Baths for donating the vibrant paint. They are now all colour-coded and named.

Thank you to Barry and Shelley for the gazebo. It’s great for the Regatta and other events. Thanks to brian@authorbrian for the T-shirts and stickers and his generous $2,500 donation towards the new lifejackets.

The club has agreed to give Chris $500 a year for the use of the property and storage of the boats and gear.

Treasurer’s Report, 31 March 2026

Revenue

Event income was substantially down with fewer entries than 2025, overlapping other events. 

Membership income showed a substantial increase.

A targeted donation of $2500 was received to go towards the cost of replacing all of the aging life jackets. We’re just trying to sort out the printing of the club logo on these so that they wont walk away!

Mooring income of $2000 includes one mooring fee for next season.

There was some mis-communication about coaching fees, $20 per session v $20 for the course, the problem wasn’t recognised until the courses had concluded. In future full payment up front would be the way to go.

No grants were applied for during the year.