The Whangarei Cruising Club, as it's name implies, was formed by a group of Whangarei sailors, mostly launch owners or crews, whose main interest was in family boating and cruising of our harbour and beautiful coast so amply provided with good harbours within one days sail, easy and safe access and impressive scenic anchorages.
75 years on this club can still boast of great family involvement in it's sailing and in most classes and also in it's social and general activities.
On April 26th 1921, Admiral Lord Jellico, who was then Governor General, visited Whangarei harbour in the Government ship ‘Tutenekai’. The Tutenekai was escorted to the Onerahi wharf by a flotilla of local launched. Admiral Lord Jellico was made famous by his success in the battle of Jutland against the German navy in the First World War.
This visit was a very important event for Whangarei and the North. isolated as we were in those   days and sufficient interest was aroused among the local sailors to start the ball rolling.
The Prime mover was Mr. A. R.  Pickmere, a dentist by profession, also a competent seaman, who had sailed 'Niobe' in earlier years. The club was officially incorporated and launched 23.11.21. Mr. Pickmere being its first Commodore.
His flag Officers and Committee were

            Patron:                                     Admiral Lord Jellico
            Vice Patron:                             Hon F. Mander, M.P.
            Commodore:                           A.H. Picker
            Vice Commodore:                   Joe Walker
            Rear Commodore:                   Selwyn Blake
            Secretary:                                George Hawkes
            Treasurer:                                Joe Palmer
            Honorary Solicitor:                  Harrie Harrison
            Committee:   Tom Carmichael, William Brophy, Norman Drummond, Fred Reynolds, Capt. William Harrison.

Once launched and running, membership grew quickly and in the first year advanced to 40. Whangarei was then a small country town of 7,000 plus with very poor roads and this caused more people to turn to the harbour for summer recreation. Very few beaches were accessible by road.
The launches of that era were mostly good sea boats and reasonably comfortable, but of course not as roomy as modern designs and without most of the present day mod cons. However, they had good sea keeping qualities and made extensive coastal cruises, often with family a crew. For many years, Kawau Island was the most popular venue for Labour Day and Easter breaks. For longer holidays like Christmas cruises, Bay of Islands, Great Barrier, Coromandel and Waiheke were popular. Many of these cruises were undertaken in company.
It is good to see organised cruises being re introduced although of course, today the participants are yachts, occasionally 2 or 3 launches or larger yachts will sail in company, but a good number of local craft make Opua their base, especially over the summer.
I can remember several cruises where I was present, made by my father in his 32 foot launch ‘Bluebird’, and in company on 2 occasions with the 25 foot launch 'Rosemary' owned by Mr. Stan Weston of Weston's Motors. This was in the early twenties with many young families aboard, no radio life saving equipment except dinghies. One cruise was to Kawau and Auckland and Waiheke and the other to then Bay of Islands, where we all camped on what is now Waitangi estate, alongside the river above the present day bridge. Engines were petrol and not too reliable but most launch men were obliged to maintain their own motors, they could usually cope with any problems when away. Westons Motors were agents for Chevrolet and Buick. Stan Westons launch was powered with a Buick six motor. She used her superior speed to make port sooner in uncomfortable conditions, where the slower but more seaworthy Bluebird followed at her own sedate speed   (7 knots). In the absence those days of radio and any organised rescue service, it was common practice to cruise in company with other boats, for company and safety. I t is good to see the club encouraging fleet cruises at the Christmas breaks, especially in the case of trailer sailers. Today of course, it is yachts that make up these fleets. Radio communication enables them to keep in touch, beside which the modern yacht, large or small is more roomy and comfortable than its predecessors and is still seaworthy with modern rig and gear making for much easier and safer handling. Our club launches still cruise together on occasions, usually 2 or 3 in company, usually with family members aboard, but whereas the early yachts were almost always crewed by men, because of lack of accommodation and privacy etc. The modern yachts, including trailer sailers are fitted with sufficient facilities to allow for family racing and cruising.

Promotion of Sailing
Mr. Arthur Pickmere – the first Commodore, although now the owner of a launch was a sailing man at heart and keen to promote sailing in the club especially among the younger members.
He had watched with interest Mr. Harry Highet sailing a 7” yacht (which he had built) on the 1920 New Year’s Day regatta at Onerahi. He engaged Mr. Highet to build a similar yacht for his 14-year-old son Hereward. Although several more 7 footers were built, organised racing initially was delayed, except for races organised by the young sailors. During the 1920’s larger centre board yachts began arriving on the river, mostly from Auckland clubs, where racing in all classes was very active at that time and many 14 foot and 16 foot centreboard yachts were being built.
By 1925 a fleet of about 10 had been built and the club became their home, although unfortunately the clubhouse was above the bridge. However the Club put on races as most sailors like the chance to pit their wits against one another. Before the Clubhouse was acquired, meetings were held in a school.
Mr. Harris, a member and a school principal, arranged this.
The second clubhouse was built from a hall that was built at Whakapara and re-erected on piles on the riverbank, close above the upper bridge and adjacent to the Olympic pool car park. The work was voluntary and supervised by a member, Mr. William Dudley. Offering life membership in exchange for £25.00 provided finance. The building consisted of a storage space for dinghies etc, and boating gear, spars etc, a meeting room and a wooden ramp to the water.

Manganese Point
Young members of the club used this pleasant spot long before (about 10 years) the property was vested in the Whangarei Cruising Club.
It became popular for 2 reasons: -

1.      Being not too far down harbour made it convenient for small yachts depending on weather conditions for sailing there and sailing home. Weekends at this period of mid twenties for many young people consisted of one day only, Sunday, which meant for those working on Saturday, leaving late that day. In my own case, finishing work at 9 p.m. Saturday meant leaving about 10 pm. To wait for departure on Sunday morning was unthinkable. On several occasions we virtually drifted down harbour, anchoring in the early hours when nature’s demand for sleep dictated the terms.
Having all day down there gave us more time if we wished to sail further down harbour to collect pipis or scallops or just to explore. Whatever the day’s activities, Manganese Point was our base and seemed to hold special significance for us.

2.      Captain Patterson owned the property and had built a hall on the rise, which incorporated a toilet. He also had a substantial jetty built and when there with his weekend trippers would set up a wooden slide that was very popular with us. We enjoyed the facilities and the presence of other people and the captain made us welcome. All the yachts off the beach made for some extra flavour and nautical touch. The captain must have known that we sometimes slept in the hall on Saturday night entering per the long drop toilet. , But we did no harm and were not reprimanded.

 The Early Years

Lists of launches and yachts.
As the membership grew, names of boats and their owners were registered on the club’s register and consisted of a large variety from 7-foot yachts with 12-year-old sailors to 40 foot launches belonging to local businessmen.
Over the years boats changed hands and more boats were bought, so compiling a list inaccuracies may have occurred, but we felt it to be important to compile a list of names and boats while still possible and before records became lost or destroyed, as much data was lost in a flood when Mr. William Berry’s office was in Water Street and he was secretary at the time.
The first yachts to appear in any numbers were the diminutive 7 footers now known as P class. Although Mr. Highet’s ‘Mascot’ was built and sailed prior to the club’s existence the second one was built by Mr. Highet for Hereward Pickmere, ‘Halcyon’ and was the forerunner of several more such as
Joe Crompton               Cheerio
Ray Dempster               Firefly
Syd Bowyer                 Dashing Wave
Tom Hollows                Sea Toy
Alf Dudley                    Curlew
Fred MacDonald, Joe Compton, Eastwood Palmer.

Because of the disruption caused by World War 1 (1914 – 1918), and subsequently the influenza epidemic, money was at low ebb and these yachts were cheap to build, under £10.00. I was earning 7 shillings and 6 pence, (75 cents per week) plus my board when I bought Halcyon for £4/15/- ($9.50), so I had to save quite hard. These little boats allowed very young people to get sailing and enjoy life.

FOUNDATION MEETINGS FROM 7.6.21

Siting of first clubhouse
First meeting, chaired by Mr. J. H. Walker
Proposed titles for club were
 "Whangarei Yacht & Motor Boat Club"
 "Whangarei Boating Club"
 "Whangarei Cruising Club"

When put to the vote, WCC won the day.
This motion was the second on the books following the very first motion, to form a boating club, thus leading to the birth of Whangarei Cruising Club Inc.

First Officers and Committee

Patron:                           Admiral Lord Jellico,
Vice Patron:                   Hon. F. Mander
Rear Commodore:         Mr. Selwyn Blake
Secretary:                      Mr. G A. Hawkes
Treasurer:                      Mr. Joe Palmer
Hon. Solicitor:               Mr. H. Harrison
Committee:                    Messrs T. Carmichael, W. Brophy, N. Drummond, F. Reynolds, W. Patterson.

 FIRST ANNUAL MEETING 8.9.21

Approved the purchase of shed from Rowing Club for £ 30 to be sited adjacent to Victoria Bridge. Mr. H. Dudley is asked to quote for removal and re siting of shed. Sub committee of Palmer, Walker & Harrison appointed to oversee the operation. This was at a meeting 12.9.21 following the first annual meeting. Committee decided at it's meeting 14.11.21 to accept Mr. Dudley's tender of £170 for transport and re-erection of building purchased from rowing club to be finalized from sale of (£50 total) 50 @ £1.0.0 debentures at 7% and 40 £5 pound.
Club initial opening per excursion to Nook, Launch & Yacht races, Sept 4th, 1922, Labour Day 1921.
The second annual meeting of the club and the first ever executive meeting to be held in the club's own clubhouse. Attendance was 35.
Officers elected as follows: -

Commodore:                          J. H. (Joe) Walker                                         
Vice commodore:                   F. (Fred) Reynolds
Rear Commodore:                  S. E (Syd) Lowe
Treasurer:                               J. (Joe) Palmer

Subscriptions – Adults   21/- (Two pounds 10 shillings) under 21 years 10/6 (One pound five shillings)
Cups and trophies were presented by retiring Commodore as follows: -

            Launches   Big Tree Cup - W.Reynolds - Texaco
                               Cruiser Cup - J.H.Walker - Whati
                               Palmer Cup and Speed pennant - F.Ewen

            Yachts 14’  Presented by W. Brophy - trophy - R. Patterson
                               Presented by F. Reynolds - sheath knife - R. Miller

            Yacht 7'     Presented by S.Blake - Cup - H.Highet
                              Presented by A.Pickmere - sheath knife - H.Pickmere

Launches over 9 knots Presented by W.G. Dudley -  Cruiser’s Cup

4.5.1925 ‘All Black’ confirmed winner of Palmer Cup.