Optimists sailing off the Charteris Bay Yacht Club. Photo: Supplied/Charteris Bay Yacht Club
When a little homemade yacht called Muffin first glided out on the waters of Lyttelton Harbour in September 1975, creator Paul Pritchett could not have imagined the waves it would make.
The boat, an Optimist, was a tribute to late friend Clive Roberts - a champion sailor, who discovered the beginner-friendly yacht class overseas and wanted to introduce it to New Zealand.
Roberts was killed in a car crash in May 1975.
Determined to honour his friend's vision, Pritchett built Muffin in his spare bedroom for just $120.
Within four years of Muffin's maiden voyage at Charteris Bay Yacht Club, it had inspired a revolution, with more than 1400 Optimists registered across the country - many of them beginners, seeking an easier alternative to the popular P-Class.
Fifty years after Muffin took to the sea, Pritchett was preparing to return her to the club where it all began, with her original yellow-and-red KZ-1 sail, for anniversary celebrations on 5 October.
Pritchett said the boat was still seaworthy, although showing its age.
"I'll have to put it in the water, but it leaks a bit," he said. "It was really thrashed when it first launched, because everybody in the district and everybody in Canterbury wanted a go in it.
"It went all around the different clubs and it was used as a demonstrator, until 3-4 more were built."
Optimist Muffin on launching day in September 1975. Photo: Supplied/Paul Pritchett
Pritchett put the boat's enduring appeal down to its accessibility for children under the age of 10, and its manageability in windy centres such as Wellington, Otago and Canterbury.
"It was very forgiving and you can't sit on the wrong side," he said. "We started to envision a future where every child could learn to sail at low cost."
Club commodore Kris Perano said the Optimist was an essential part of the New Zealand yachting story, with more than 4000 boats registered around the country.
"They are the key class within New Zealand, but also globally, that kids are learning to sail in and certainly still a very big part of our club," he said. "Pretty much every kid starts on an Opti, including Peter Burling and all those sorts.
"We have kids as young as eight routinely jumping in those boats and having a brilliant time."
Pritchett not only built the country's first Optimist, but played an instrumental role in teaching "probably thousands of kids" to sail, Perano said.
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