Christchurch’s Pleasant Point Yacht Club celebrates its centenary next February and the committee is extending an invitation to all previous members to attend the club’s celebrations.

Originally called the Boat Club when it was established in 1921 on the shores of the estuary in an area then known as Pleasant Point Domain, it was renamed Pleasant Point Boating Club in 1924. Five years later it moved to the western shore to an area of mud flats (now Rat Island) at the mouth of the Avon River.

The land was improved and over the years the club facilities were built, introducing a summer-long sailing programme of racing. So it remained until the first of the Canterbury earthquakes a few years ago damaged the buildings and land beyond repair.

Finding a new site (and the rebuild) took nine years, but the club is back in the South New Brighton Park with new facilities that opened in September 2019 – just a stone’s throw from where it all began in 1921.

The Centennial celebrations are scheduled for Waitangi Weekend, with a Noggin ‘n Natter on the Friday evening. The club’s main open event – the Sullivan Cup – will be held the next day, coupled with another trophy, the Arch Lamb Trophy for the Sunburst Class. Saturday’s racing is to be followed by a celebration dinner.

The club’s iconic Classic Yacht Race – first sailed at its 75th celebrations – will be held on Sunday. This will be coupled with a display by the members of the Classic Boat Group of Canterbury. Organisers also hope to stage a display of vintage cars.