Club history
Xarifa: Our Club’s first yacht
Launched 01 August 1874, Xarifa was the first “proper” yacht to be built in Wellington – her purpose for nothing more than the recreation of sport and cruising.
The Freybergs
There were five Freyberg brothers, three in particular stand out as swimmers, yachtsmen, and fighters. One, Lord Freyberg, was an honorary life member of the RPNCY. This is their story.
Hal Wagstaff OBE
Hal Wagstaff OBE was a man who insisted that things always be done right but was never bound by convention. He maintained his bright intelligence and involvement in the sport up to the time of his death, and definitely lived up to the name “Hurricane” Hal.
Grafton Francis Bothamley
The following is Commodore Pedro Morgan’s address to the ship’s company of HMNZS Olphert and…
Historic copies of The RIP
Scanned copies of our former club magazine, The RIP, are now available online.
A Short History of Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club
In 1883 a group of Wellington sailors called a meeting in the Pier Hotel to discuss the formation of a yacht club. The result was the creation of Port Nicholson Yacht Club.
Merging of the clubs: the history of the RPNYC burgee
The burgee the club has today was approved in 1920, following the merger of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, the Te Ruru Yacht Club and the Te Aro Sailing Club.
DigitalNZ puts over 1000 historical RPNYC items online
Digital NZ has posted over one thousand items of RPNYC history online as part of a project led by the National Library. The collection includes newspaper articles and photos from the past and is well worth a look.
A collection of photos from the Auckland Weekly news
The Wellington Classic Yacht Trust have put online a series of photos that were first pubished in the Auckland Weekly News from the early 1900’s through to 1940. They provide an excellent snapshot of early sailing life in Wellington with a lot of shots of Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club events.
The battle of Mawhiti and Kotiri
The rivalry in boat building in Wellington goes back a long way. Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust continues his story telling about the yachts and their sailors in Wellington with the story of Mawhiti and Kotiri and the people who built and sailed them.
The Arawa Sailing Club and the Half Raters
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust continues his story telling about the yachts and their sailors in Wellington. This time he focuses on the Arawa Sailing Club and the Half Raters.
Isca – a little ship that could
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust continues his story telling about the yachts and their sailors in Wellington. This time he focuses on the little ship that could … Isca.
Two examples of early boat building in Wellington
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust continues his story telling about the yachts and their sailors in Wellington. This time he focuses on the boat builder Roydoin Ross and on the yacht Taipare.
The rise and fall of the Thorndon Dinghy Sailing Club
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust has posted another article on the history of yachts and their sailors in Wellington. This time he focuses on the Thorndon Dinghy Sailing Club which was one of the early sailing clubs in Wellington.
The tale of Ethel
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust has posted another article on the history of yachts and their sailors in Wellington. This time he focuses on Ethel.
Innovation in boat design has been around since 1880
Gavin Pascoe from the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust tells the story of Pet, the leading boat in the Wellington fleet back in the 1880s.
Remembering some of our history on Anzac Day
Many of our members served in both World War one and World War two and and as always ANZAC day is an opportunity to remember them. One such person was RPNYC Life Member Lieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO*** KStJ (21 March 1889 – 4 July 1963).