Keeping club on course

Sports clubs the length and breadth of this country depend on volunteers for their survival. Not the least of these is the Richmond Yacht Club, which is celebrating its centennial year.

The club is run by volunteers, a formula that has proved successful throughout its history. Among them is Vera Mummery, 79, who has been secretary since 1981 and is still involved with the racing programme and the events that have been held, and are still to take place, to mark the club's first 100 years.

Vera's record of service has earned her a unique place on the yachting scene. She came to New Zealand with her late husband, Ted, in 1953 and they bought Caress, a Townson 32. Ted was a keen and competitive sailor; Vera preferred cruising.

"So while he was out there sailing the boat hard, I found myself getting involved with the administrative and organisational aspects of the club," she says. That involvement led to her becoming secretary, which saw her efforts rewarded with a Queen's Service Medal in 2001. The citation read: "For the past 30 years Mrs Mummery has played a major role in the club's racing programme, from operating the start and finish tower to liaising with all the clubs in Auckland to ensure programmes don't clash."

She is still Officer of the Day for the popular Wednesday night series and is in the tower for most Friday and weekend racing.

The club evolved from rather humble beginnings through the efforts of a group of young yachtsmen who gathered around the Cox's Bay boatshed of James Donald. That area of Westmere was then part of the suburb of Richmond, and they called the new club Richmond Cruising Club.

That was 1903. By 1913 the growing club had decided on a move to Sloanes Beach, where it remained until 1940.

There it stayed until the development of Westhaven, where it owns the RYC building and the future is secure on a 40 x 40-year lease. Richmond has become well-known as a family-oriented club, albeit with a full-on racing programme.

On Saturday, September 20, the Centennial Spring Regatta will be held. This annual highlight of the Auckland racing calendar has seen some huge fleets in its 30-year-plus history. Vera recalls that in the late 1970s, when her husband was commodore, they had a fleet of 498 entries - despite a huge effort they couldn't get two more starters. More recently the event has around 100 boats facing the starter.

The strengths of the club and its pivotal role on the Auckland sailing scene will be recounted in a book to mark the first 100 years by marine historians Harold Kidd and Robin Elliott. It will be titled Lee Rail, the name of the weekly newspaper the club published after World War II.

Elliott: "It was a massive undertaking for a club run by volunteers because it carried the racing details from all Auckland clubs. The men behind it were Norm Shaw and Jim Franklin and we will be paying tribute to them in the centennial publication which will be out next month."

Asked to imagine what's ahead for Richmond in the next 100 years, Vera Mummery is confident that the family-oriented formula that has served the club well throughout its history will continue.

"Like all the other yacht clubs in the region, we need new members, and our Friday night 6.30 Round-the-Buoys series is one way of attracting them," she says. "It is a simple formula where club members with a range of yachts from a Noelex 22 up to a Beale 40 take newcomers sailing."

For some, this is a try-before-you-buy exercise for families interested in getting into yachting. For others, it is an opportunity to get on the water with expert tuition and learn the basics of sailing, then perhaps take a crewing role. There is a new 6.30 Friday series coming up and anyone interested can call (09) 376 4332 to find out about dates and costs.