History of Horowhenua Sailing Club 1940

About Lake Horowhenua

Weed

Weed growth is normal on the lake. Normally the weed will grow in mid to late November. The big factor for weed growth is the water temperature over the winter months. If we have a mild winter, the weed will grow earlier in the season (September / October).

Depth

The lake is approx 1.8 meters deep. The lake is suitable for most sailing craft (Optimist through to Noelex 22). Power boats are not allowed on the lake. (The sailing club have permission to run rescue craft).

Wind

The prevailing wind direction is from the west. The lake is approx 4 km from the coast, and given the right temperature conditions the sea breeze can reach the lake. The wind is a little more shifty than coastal areas, and provides good training on picking wind shifts.

Algae

The Lake is from time to time affected by algae. It normally grows when the lake weed starts to die. The algae is not normally a problem until late December. In some years the Lake has had to close for a couple of weeks in the summer. By mid January the lake is normally reopened for recreational purposes. The lake water is routinely monitored and tested by the regional council.

Lake Horowhenua

Is the largest "Dune Lake" in the Southern Hemisphere, and is very special to the area, and local Maori. Its history goes back many century's. The lake itself is approx 3 km long by 1 km wide. Sailing activities have taken place since the early 1900's with the Sailing Club officially forming in 1955.

Horowhenua Sailing Club

History 1940 - 1990

22 February 1955, the "Horowhenua Boating Club" was Incorporated under the incorporated societies Act. For the purpose of "promoting yacht and boat building and racing"

22 July 1983, the club changed its name from "Horowhenua Boating Club Inc" to "Horowhenua Sailing Club Inc"

Photographer Glads M. Goodall (Both Photos). Yachting on Lake Horowhenua. There are several yachts (Cheurbs [Heart Insignia], X Class, Zephyrs), on the lake and many on the shore. A number of people are on the shore and a small car and a van are parked on the foreshore. The shadows in the photograph indicate the time of day to be late afternoon.

1969 The Clubs season was badly affected by weed, with the 1st half of the season lost.

1983 The Club hosted the "Kingham Trophy" -The National Interprovincial Javelin championships (Invitation race to the Sanders Cup), after the race had been transferred from the Manawatu Sailing Club at Foxton due to high winds.

1986 The Inaugural "Frostbusters" race was sailed for the first time, this race attracted visiting competitors from all over the region, and has continued to be sailed annually on the closest weekend to the shortest day ever since.

1989 The Club ran its first "New Zealand Championships. The New Zealand Phoenix Class Championships.

Regatta's ran by the club regularly had numbers over 100, with yachties camping over most of the domain area.