This was the view of the secretary of the Macandrew Bay Boating Club, Mark Edwards, after the Christmas regatta was postponed until Boxing Day, because of adverse weather conditions the previous weekend.
Twelve yachts competed in the Boxing Day regatta and the club hopes to rekindle some of the interest that was generated in the early years of the 20th century.
"I have seen old photos and there were over 100 yachts competing at the annual regatta," Edwards said.
Over the past decade, the event has been held on the last weekend before the Christmas break.
This is a busy time for most people and going back to a Boxing Day event could be a better option.
The main event at the regatta was in the Optimist class, won by Dylan Edwards in Beelion, in a time of 1hr 8min.
The minor placings were filled by William Martinowski, in 1hr 11min, and Josh Mackey, in Minyme, in 1hr 27min.
The centreboard B race was closer, with Greg Harrex winning narrowly in a Europe dinghy in 1hr 49min, from Ben and Jake Hawker, in the Sunburst Embers, in 1hr 51min, with Tony Martinowski third in 2hr 11min.
The centreboard A event was won by South Island champion Alex Morris in his Laser, in 2hr 2min, ahead of Gary Griffith, in his Finn class yacht Thorfinn, in 2hr 8min and James Harrex, in a Laser in 2hr 9min.
The novelty event of the regatta was won by Hannah George from Mark Edwards in Beelion and Freya Griffith.
It involved a short 300m course, with the last 50m sailed backwards.
The sailors then had to run up to the clubrooms and drink a bottle of beer or lemonade.
