Marakura Yacht Club’s (MYC) 50 years of history is proudly on display this weekend as the club celebrates by hosting its annual Easter Regatta.

The event, which this year features both national and regional championships, has attracted close to 50 entries from across the country in what is doubling up as a celebration of their history.

The regatta is usually held the week before Easter but was moved forward a week in 2019 to help attract more interest to the event.

It is the first time since 2012 the MYC has hosted a national event, with the 2019 New Zealand Trailer Yacht Association (NZTYA) national championships taking centre stage across the weekend.

The regatta is also hosting the NZTYA South Island trailer championships as well as the MYC trailer and senior dinghies championship and the MYC junior dinghies championship.

Yacht' Reprieve' battles it out with 'Charade' on Lake Te Anau during the Marakura Yacht Club's 50th Anniversary regatta. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth

Former club treasurer Charlotte Shipman said it was a great turn out for the celebration weekend.

“This is the most vibrant I’ve seen the club since I’ve been in Te Anau which is coming up 10 years. The atmosphere is absolutely incredible and the way we’ve got the club rooms setup with all the displays and the decorations, it’s just come together beautifully, and the people are amazing. The stories that are being remembered and the photographs are prompting a lot of those stories. People coming off the street who haven’t been here for years going that’s me in that boat. So it’s a meeting of a lot of people who haven’t seen each other in years.”

A special anniversary dinner was held on Saturday night, with America’s Cup winner from Emirates Team New Zealand Nick Hutchins the special guest speaker on the night.

And despite rainy and wet weather across the three days, competition was fierce across all the categories Mrs Shipman said.

“As long as there is wind it’s fine.”