Pegasus Radio Sailing Club was formed in 2018 and is based on Lake Pegasus in Waimakariri District, north of Kaiapoi, South Island, New Zealand. Lake Pegasus covers 18 hectares, is 500 metres long and varies between 100 and 200 metres wide providing 3.5 km of foreshore with five areas we can sail from, depending on the wind. Over 40 members are friends enjoying the challenges and satisfaction of radio sailing. They are always keen to share their knowledge and respond to interest shown by passers-by and welcome enquiries.
A recent Boat Show Day revealed that our Club and members own 71 radio yachts across 14 designs – 12 Canty J; 33 IOM; 7 EC12; 7 DF95; 2 DF65; 2 Laser RC; 5 Marblehead; 1 Ten Rater; 2 scale Zephyr; 1 own design; 1 Mini 40 Trimaran; 1 Fairwind; 1 Sailwind and 6 Pegasus 880 yachts for public, school and business “Have a Go” events as well as challenges against other radio or full-size yacht clubs.
The annual Activities Program includes fortnightly Class Racing Medal Days for IOMs and DF 95s and Handicap Racing with prizes to recognise performance and improvement. The Development Sundays in-between focus on fun-based ‘get-to-know-radio-sailing’, boat handling (on and off the water), or knowledge and experience in race management and the rules, health and safety. Another special feature of the club is the Impromptu Sailing that happens when members look out over the lake, at any time of the week, check the weather, and WhatsApp other members to put a few buoys out and test each other’s wit and wisdom. Aspiring competitive skippers often create opportunities together to tune their yachts and improve their yacht handling skills.
