christchurch model yacht club

New Zealand Radio Yachting Association Inc.

The home of Radio Sailing in New Zealand

Christchurch Model Yacht Club

Club Racing

• Saturdays 
• Wednesday Windlers      Every Wednesday 

Contacts 

Commodore .

Chris Koskela

Secretary  

Peter Fisher

[email protected]

Website : www.christchurchmodelyachting.org.nz

The Christchurch Model Yacht Club is situated beside Lake Victoria in Hagley Park, right in the middle of the city. The lake is ideal for model yachting, and the club is strong with a general membership of 100 or so sailors.

Wednesday Windlers sail every Wednesday, as early as they wish to arrive, and use a course that takes them walking around the lake in alternate clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations. The break for lunch is a great time for social chit-chat and discussions on boats (of course!). Saturdays are race days with rostered Race Officers and courses with as good a beat in them as possible.

The first Saturday of the month the Club holds its races at Lake Rua. A venue acquired after the earthquakes in Christchurch. It is a lake very suitable for the IOM class and the club has held several of their championships there.

We have several strong classes of model yacht in the club. The popular Canterbury J, the EC12, the 1 Metre (IOM) and a few Marblehead and Witchcrafts plus some classes that are not sailed frequently but are dusted off on special occasions.

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Christchurch model yacht club going strong after 125 years

If you wander down to Christchurch's Hagley Park on a Wednesday, chances are you'll see dozens of white sails at Lake Victoria.

Christchurch's model yacht club is about to celebrate 125 years by holding holding a regatta next week.

Established in 1898, it's New Zealand's oldest Model Yacht club, and the second oldest in the world!

Club member Bruce Edgar is down at Hagley Park. He speaks to Charlotte from there.

Christchurch Model Yacht Club on Lake Victoria Photo: Rodney Ford via Christchurch Model Yacht Club

• life and society

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World's second-oldest model yacht club celebrates anniversary.

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One-hundred-and-twenty-five years old and still going, the Christchurch Model Yacht club recently held a celebration to mark its milestone anniversary. 

Recognised as the second-oldest model yacht club in the world, it began its life in 1898, after a group of Christchurch businessmen decided to engage in the hobby. 

“You know, it's one thing to keep a club going for 10 years, but for 125 years, it’s a pretty special day for us.” said Al Ross, the club’s secretary. 

Ross says model yacht racing is a great sport for retired sailors.

Despite the rather dull conditions and occasional rain on the day, the model yachties were able to get in a race or two to celebrate the occasion.  

Phil Mauger, the mayor of Christchurch was on hand to congratulate the crew, and to unveil the newly installed commemorative plaque. 

 -  John Spurdle, Public Interest Journalism Fund    

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Fierce competition marks city's 125 years of model yacht racing

The rain did nothing to deter the battle for supremacy in what is a long-time tradition. (Source: 1News)

When it started pouring with rain on Saturday, many of the sailors on the banks of Lake Victoria, in Christchurch's Hagley Park, didn’t even flinch.

While their jackets welled up, they kept their eyes on the water, as dozens of tiny model boats jostled for position.

They are no toys: the racing is serious business, a tradition that’s continued for more than a century in Christchurch.

“[You’re always] looking up the course, looking at other boats, where the advantage might be on the start line,” said Graham Parratt, a legendary model sailor known as “Parrot”, who has won the local championship five times.

Saturday’s races were held in honour of the 125th anniversary of the Christchurch Model Yacht Club. Most events involve a miniature boat known as the Canterbury Jay, which is just over a metre in length and has sails controlled by a radio transmitter.

It’s a great passion for the members of the club, who are aged between 40 and 97 years old.

Club secretary Al Ross says many were formerly sailors in their younger days.

“A lot of our sailors are ex-sailors of big boats, and they get a bit sick of having to spend all day of getting cold, and getting hurt, and spending lots of money,” he said.

“They come here, and you get the same satisfaction of sailing around a course, competing around a course according to the rules of sailing, and just the social aspects are very important for these guys too.”

Many are built by hand, with experts like Graeme Raxworthy, a former panel beater, becoming sought after for model boat building prowess.

Raxworthy has now built in excess 40 of the crafts, and jokes he “lives in the shed”.

“There’s great camaraderie here, a good bunch of guys, and if you're down here on a Wednesday and you hear them all arguing and carrying on and half an hour later, they're all best of mates,” he said, laughing.

“It's a hell of a lot of fun, and the rules of racing apply out here, just as they would on Lyttleton Harbour. So we've got people that don't know the rules, people that don't want to know the rules and others that know them very clearly.”

Competition remained fierce as racing got underway on Saturday with “Parrot", the champion model sailor, relegated to the microphone.

Asked whether it was an intentional strategy, to keep him in the commentators box, he joked that it was “fair”.

“My wife says at times, ‘you go down to make friends, stop winning!’”.

A new sailor was soon crowed victor, and there was nothing miniature about the trophy.

The victor held it aloft to rapturous applause from his fellow sailors, his name added to the 125 years of history.

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Canterbury J Class Model Yacht

Canterbury J Class Model Yacht website

A Brief History of the Canterbury J Class Model Yacht

Sailing at the Christchurch Model Yacht Club [CMYC] in 1996-1997 there was a small classic J Class model yacht named RANGER with a length of 1.2 metres and this was owned by Dave Heanly. This yacht was J1 which was eventually purchased from Dave and is now on display in the CMYC club rooms at Hagley Park.

A group of CMYC members decided the J Class yacht would be ideal for easy fully rigged transport and sailing in weedy conditions at Lake Victoria.

The hull of number J1 was purchased from Model Boats and the sail plan designed by Hugh Hobden. An approach was made to purchase more hulls. Euan Sargison negotiated and another 9 hulls were purchased and sold very quickly.

The J Class Squadron was formed 2 Sep 1997. Two more hulls appeared making the total at this time twelve.

More hulls were in demand and the place that originally sold the hulls advised that the mould had been lost. After investigating it was found that the original hulls supplied had been taken from a Timaru J Class yacht.

It was decided to make a Canterbury mould with adjustments. The hull was deepened by 16mm and the lead reduced by 16mm and the trim weight put inside the hull. The J Class squadron purchased the new mould with a loan from Peter Vincent and the loan was repaid from hull sales. Number J13 was the first hull

To promote the sailing class three trophies were donated by Peter Vincent.

More Canterbury J Class historical information can be found HERE

The basic philosophy was to have an easily sailed and economically built  RC yacht’ based on a one design principles to provide good resale value, and with racing dependent more on the skipper rather than designer/builder skill.These objects have been attained and the Class has attracted many first time sailors, mostly from the retired ranks who share the common creed, “it sure beats gardening!”

The boat can be transported easily in the average car or station wagon fully rigged. Many boats have features of the original Canterbury J Class.

The “Wednesday Windlers” can muster fleets of 30 plus for their around-the-lake sailing on Lake Victoria. Why not visit the lake on a Wednesday? Members turn out, except in the most atrocious weather, and are pleased to “turn over the controls” to any interested spectator.

377 hulls [December 2022] have been purchased and they are to be found in all areas of New Zealand and as far afield as the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany and the UK. It is a one-design yacht and all hull shells, keels and trim weights are made from moulds officially approved by the Canterbury J Association with an identification number moulded into the hull.

There are rules that, prohibit exotic materials, define a fixed minimum weight, strictly control dimensions in the three sizes of sail rigs.

The yacht can be bought as a kit or in separate pieces and assembled as the budget allows. This also allows members handy at making small components to make many of the parts and keep the price down. All parts are available: hulls white polyester, keels, brass fittings, and computer-generated sails, winches and radio gear. If you cannot find the part you want we will find it or we can make it at reasonable costs.

There is also an active and increasing North Island fleet sailing out of the T auranga Radio Sailing Club  Gilmour Lake  Waihi , [links to external sites] , Palmerston North and Auckland

Christchurch Model Yacht Club prepare boats

Christchurch Model Yacht Club prepare boats, Victoria Lake, Hagley Park.

• 24 February 2018
• February 2018
• Christchurch Model Yacht Club
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Feadship announces 75m superyacht concept powered entirely by fuel cells

Dutch yard Feadship has announced a new, 75-metre concept known as C, with full details to be revealed at this year's Monaco Yacht Show . The superyacht has been designed by Studio de Voogt to commemorate Feadship's 75th Diamond Anniversary.

C is inspired by the design of a diamond and how its facets reflect and magnify light, which manifests in the use of glazing to "draw light deep into the yacht's interior". Her hull shape and fully electric propulsion system marks an evolution from the shipyard's concept Breathe, revealed in 2010 and the award-winning Savannah . 

This concept is predicted to be "30 per cent more efficient than a typical 75-metre yacht" with dual shafts, propellers, and rudders, according to Feadship. The yacht will also follow on from Feadship's ground-breaking Project 821 by drawing 100 per cent of her power needs from fuel cells directly running on methanol and complimented by lithium-metal batteries.

Other "innovations" on board C are the partially enclosed lower deck sea lounge, to be used at anchor or underway, a beach club with sea-level dining, a duplex owner’s suite and an articulating crow’s nest rising from a private observation deck. A pair of infinity-edge hexagonal pools match the shapes of various seating areas and the atrium. 

The new concept also follows on from an earlier concept, Pure, and the recently-delivered Ulysses with a fully digital command centre and navigation hub that includes "the latest in intelligent situational awareness technology with cameras and data fusion".

The yacht is expected to reach a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. Additional power for the hotel load will be generated passively by two pairs of wave-actuated fins that fold out from the hull aft of the anchors.

For those attending the Monaco Yacht Show, visit Stand DS103 to say hello to the BOAT International team.

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“ Cultural Planning will help to ensure the Perm region will remain distinctive and unique” , Mr. Protasevich said. “It will mean planning ways to support and preserve our heritage, developing appealing opportunities for artists and musicians regardless of age, and generating education and employment. It will mean building a creative community with a buzz.”

“Some of the identified objectives of “Perm krai international:young journalists@school” project include facilitating greater communication and cooperation among young community and official organizations in Perm krai”, said the Vice-Minister of Perm krai.

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The international children festival of theatre arts “Long Break”

What is the international child festival of theatre arts “Long Break”? It is a real holiday for young spectators and their parents. The international child festival of theatre arts “Long Break” will be hold from the 30th of April to the 5th of May. It will be in Perm and Lysva. It will be hold under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth Politics and Mass Communications of Perm Krai. The program of the festival is prepared by Russian and foreign experts of child theatre. There are the most interesting for children events of the world arts. The “Long Break” familiarizes children with actual artists. It is the platform where people communicate with people using the language of modern arts which is understandable for a new generation.

The festival “The White Nights in Perm”

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• The exhibition “Mammoth’s track” will gather mammoths from different corners of Russia on Perm’s territory. There will be even a famous mammoth Dima.
• And at last the international festival of street arts «Open sky» will represent the various program: carnival processions, a 5-day master class «Mask Art», street shows and performances, performances of Russian and foreign street theatres.

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From the 26th to the 3rd of July the IX International festival “Heavenly Fair of Ural” takes place in Kungur. There will be a fight for the I Privolzhski Federal Disctrict Cup for aerostatics and the VII Perm Krai Open Cup for aerostatics.This year Kungur won’t hold rating competitions which results are taking into general account of the pilots. They counted on creating entertainment activities “Air battles over Kungur”. There will be the representatives of sub-units of ultralight aviation, detachment of parachute troops and water means. All the battles will take place straight over the city. And natives will take part in the festival too.According to initial data 15 aeronauts and about 50 ultralight aviation pilots expressed willingness to take part at the festival. And a dirigible pilot confirmed his participation.Ultralight aviation pilots will take part in the “Air games” within the festival. As last year a campsite of ultralight aviation will base in an area near a village Milniki.

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Christchurch Model Yacht Club Inc.

radio sailing on Lake Victoria Christchurch New Zealand

Please use our Contact Form for all inquiries

Commodore – Ron Bedyn

Vice Commodore – Cyrus Berry

Secretary – Al Ross

Treasurer – Peter Fisher

Sailing Master –   Tom Arthur

Frequency Marshall – Warwick Stephens

Leon Blewett

Ron Campbell

Rodney Ford

Daniel Cross