Model yacht racing competitive

There's nothing like sailing the seas with the wind in your hair ... but racing a model yacht up a stormwater pond can be loads of fun too. Royal Palm Beach Yacht Club secretary/treasurer Graham Brook says people will be surprised how complicated, as well as competitive, it can be to race the little boats

Graham Brook built a boat in his 20s, sold it for a deposit on a house and hasn't been able to look at another yacht since.

It took nearly 40 boatless years for Mr Brook to bring himself to finally own another.

But this one is smaller - much smaller.

Upon retirement, the friendly Papamoa resident invested in a radio-controlled model yacht designed by the late Des Townson MNZM of Auckland. He joined the Royal Palm Beach Yacht Club and became entrenched in the competitive, but always fun, sport of model yacht racing. He took to it like a duck to water.

When he was a young sailor, his homemade 32ft timber boat was perfect to take out cruising. He named it Because.

"Why? Because when you're out sailing in gale-force winds ... you ask yourself 'why do I do this?' Just because."

But his pride and joy had to be sold to make way for his new pride and joy - wife Valerie.

"When you put your heart and soul into building something yourself, it can be really difficult to sell it," he says. "I couldn't look at another boat for a long time."

The model yacht was also named Because ... just because.

Mr Brook joined the model yacht club five years ago and became secretary/treasurer. It's a great sport, good for older people, he says. And it comes with the bonus of being able to "pick the boat up and carry it" rather than mess about with trailers.

A wide range of ages race the boats, the club's oldest member is 83 and the youngest is in his 20s.

Mr Brook says model yacht racing has all the elements required of regular sailing.

"You have to know how a boat handles, you still have to trim the sails, turn the rudder and make other various adjustments."

While sailing a model yacht can be reasonably simple, racing a model yacht is a different kettle of fish.

"You can't wander along chatting, you have to concentrate the entire time. But there is a certain amount of luck involved."

The club meets at Montego Drive summer and winter, twice a week.

They used to get together regularly with a club from Gisborne for fierce regattas but will now be up against the big guns from Auckland's five model yacht clubs in November.

When he's not out at Montego Drive stormwater pond trying to catch that perfect wind, Mr Brook makes sails for model boats for club members. Or Mr and Mrs Brook head out in their beloved motorhome We'll Meet Again.

Do you know a senior citizen who stands out in some way? Please email rebecca.cawston@bayofplentytimes.co.nz