Forced take-off

20th November 2009

When the Air Force quits Hobsonville airbase its sailing club's members may lose the port they've long called home, reports Joanna Davies.

If you can find your way through the confusing layout at Hobsonville airbase you eventually reach the sheltered water's edge. Here, overlooking Beach Haven, Air Force personnel and civilians meet to sail.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland Yacht Club celebrates its 75th anniversary this weekend. But amid the celebrations will be quietly voiced concerns about the club's future.

"The last of the Air Force will be leaving Hobsonville by 2011,'' says club life member Jim Ellis, "and then the Defence Department will stop the club.

"What we have done is formed another club, the Hobsonville Yacht Club, with the same members, so we can then negotiate with the landowners to stay here.''

The Hobsonville Land Company owns the area and intends to redevelop the marine area where seaplanes once landed.

"In the plans, our clubroom is no longer here,'' says Mr Ellis, who joined the club in 1962 when he served in the Air Force. "There is a lot of uncertainty about what will happen to us once the development starts.''

Over the past 75 years the club has grown from two wooden huts to become a monument to Air Force history in the area.

"The shed and toilet block used to be the old Pan Am cargo shed at Whenuapai when it was the international airport,'' Mr Ellis says. "The clubroom itself used to be the RNZAF Piha radar station in World War II.''

For the anniversary celebrations, Mr Ellis expects 300 present  and former members to visit and sail. "We are doing some racing in wooden boats that aren't raced anymore, so people are pulling them out of barns and sheds and getting them ready for the regatta.''

Hobsonville Land Company chief executive Sean Bignell says the clubrooms cannot stay. "Retention of the existing building and facilities used by the club is not practical for a number of reasons, including their age, location and physical appearance.''

But Mr Bignell says the company is looking at options for a community centre for use by many groups for water sports.

"Such a facility would act to serve not only existing members but be available to the new residents as part of the redeveloped public realm and quality waterfront amenity at Hobsonville Point.''

The company submitted a coastal consent application to Auckland Regional Council and Waitakere City Council last month.

Mr Bignell says this process should be complete next year.

To register for the reunion former members of the RNZAF Base Auckland Yacht Club may email Mr Ellis at jellis@slingshot.co.nz