Sail for free

Any Timaruvians who have been hankering to have a go at sailing will get the chance this Sunday.

The Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club is holding a Have a Go day.

Yachting New Zealand Have a Go instructor Simon McVeagh travels all over the South Island with a trailer of boats, and takes young people out on the water.

‘‘On Sunday we’ve got a sponsored open day that’s completely free and will have a variety of different shape boats available for the public to come down and try out,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got nine different sailing boats that will cover all ages and abilities.’’

The Have a Go initiative was set up 2007 to honour the legacy of Sir Peter Blake. Blake’s vision was that every child in New Zealand would get the opportunity to sail.

Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club junior rep Rob Berger said the main driver for the open day was the result of an agreement between PrimePort and Melbourne based company Hart Marine. PrimePort earlier this year acquired a new pilot boat, named Kiwa, for $2.4 million from Hart Marine.

Part of the deal of the purchase was that Hart Marine would then sponsor a public event that involved activity on the water, for the locals of the area, of PrimePort’s choice, Berger said. As PrimePort was a big sponsor the the club, it arranged for the day to run there.

The club held two official open days a year, but any youths interested in trying the sport out were welcome to pop in and enquire any time during the season, he said.

The event will begin at 9am on Sunday, December 17. See yachtingnz.org.nz for further details and to register.