About the Waikato Yacht Squadron
Safe family sailing
Our first and foremost objective is to encourage and support safe family sailing - both cruising and racing. Our members love to help other members, both new and old alike, from help with launching, where to sail, how to reef, good anchorages or anchoring techniques or joining in for a cruise, race or day sail. We are a group of people that sail, happy to share our sailing knowledge and encourage new squadron members. If you're new to sailing, trailer sailers or keelers, or just thinking about joining we'd love to have you along.
Sailing the Hauraki Gulf
Most of our sailing activities are based in the Hauraki Gulf and originate either from Kawakawa Bay where the Squadron operates a secure compound trailer yacht parking area, or Pine Harbour Marina where many of the club members with keelers have their yachts moored.
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Most of our sailing activities are based in the Hauraki Gulf and originate either from Kawakawa Bay where the Squadron operates a secure compound trailer yacht parking area, or Pine Harbour Marina where many of the club members with keelers have their yachts moored.
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Races
Our Races are as intense or relaxed as you want them to be, you can choose to start a little back from the line and treat it as a relaxed cruise to the destination, or vie for a slick start and give the other boats a run for their money. Our races end in a nice bay close to the race finish and sheltered from the wind where possible for a friendly BBQ and prizegiving.
Our Races are as intense or relaxed as you want them to be, you can choose to start a little back from the line and treat it as a relaxed cruise to the destination, or vie for a slick start and give the other boats a run for their money. Our races end in a nice bay close to the race finish and sheltered from the wind where possible for a friendly BBQ and prizegiving.
Sail Cruising
Trailer sailers and keelers are like caravans on water, and we like to get out and make a weekend of it or more. We usually run a good number of weekend sailing cruising events where you can treat it as a race or just cruise to a destination. These include sailing around Ponui, various bays around Waiheke, Motuihe Island and Rangitoto Island. There's often a social BBQ on the beach in the afternoon, and most members will sleep overnight on their boat at anchor. Many members also get out to other Islands in the gulf and beyond including Rotoroa, Rakino, Tiritiri Matangi. Coromandel and the various islands up that coast are another common destination, with an Easter Coromandel cruise one of our highlights.
Where possible and able to get time off, we will look to take a week long cruise, often to Great Barrier or Mercury Island. Many members also go further afield including trips to Tauranga, Whangarei, Bay of Islands and even across Cook Strait. Sailing with a number of boats provides a greater element of safety and a social element should you wish. For details of this years events check out our Calendar page.
Monthly Social
Our monthly social meeting, Nog n Natter, is held in the Hamilton Yacht Club from 7:30 PM on the fourth Tuesday of most months. These gatherings are relaxed and allow you to meet other sailors over a coffee and biscuit. We usually incorporate a structured talk with a guest speaker that will provide insightful information on one or a number of sailing and Squadron affairs.
Join Us
If you are thinking about joining, have recently bought a boat, thinking of buying or just want to join and sail with us then please contact us. Come along to one of our social evenings, or join us for a race. You can contact one of the committee or fill in the contact form.
History
The Squadron began in 1968 as the Waikato Trailer Yacht Squadron and in 1990 changed its name to embrace a growing number of keel boat owners. Today it provides a club focus for around 80 boat owning members including trailer yachts, keel yachts and multihull yachts.
The Squadron is affiliated to Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) through the Waikato-Thames Yachting Association. We are also affiliated to the New Zealand Trailer Yacht Association (NZTYA). Whenever possible we support and participate in the activities of kindred clubs e.g. Pine Harbour Cruising Club, Ngaroto Sailing Club, Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron, and Maraetai Beach Boating Club.
Trailer sailers and keelers are like caravans on water, and we like to get out and make a weekend of it or more. We usually run a good number of weekend sailing cruising events where you can treat it as a race or just cruise to a destination. These include sailing around Ponui, various bays around Waiheke, Motuihe Island and Rangitoto Island. There's often a social BBQ on the beach in the afternoon, and most members will sleep overnight on their boat at anchor. Many members also get out to other Islands in the gulf and beyond including Rotoroa, Rakino, Tiritiri Matangi. Coromandel and the various islands up that coast are another common destination, with an Easter Coromandel cruise one of our highlights.
Where possible and able to get time off, we will look to take a week long cruise, often to Great Barrier or Mercury Island. Many members also go further afield including trips to Tauranga, Whangarei, Bay of Islands and even across Cook Strait. Sailing with a number of boats provides a greater element of safety and a social element should you wish. For details of this years events check out our Calendar page.
Monthly Social
Our monthly social meeting, Nog n Natter, is held in the Hamilton Yacht Club from 7:30 PM on the fourth Tuesday of most months. These gatherings are relaxed and allow you to meet other sailors over a coffee and biscuit. We usually incorporate a structured talk with a guest speaker that will provide insightful information on one or a number of sailing and Squadron affairs.
Join Us
If you are thinking about joining, have recently bought a boat, thinking of buying or just want to join and sail with us then please contact us. Come along to one of our social evenings, or join us for a race. You can contact one of the committee or fill in the contact form.
History
The Squadron began in 1968 as the Waikato Trailer Yacht Squadron and in 1990 changed its name to embrace a growing number of keel boat owners. Today it provides a club focus for around 80 boat owning members including trailer yachts, keel yachts and multihull yachts.
The Squadron is affiliated to Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) through the Waikato-Thames Yachting Association. We are also affiliated to the New Zealand Trailer Yacht Association (NZTYA). Whenever possible we support and participate in the activities of kindred clubs e.g. Pine Harbour Cruising Club, Ngaroto Sailing Club, Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron, and Maraetai Beach Boating Club.
