Model yachting fanatics converged on Ashburton’s Lake Hood last weekend for some friendly model yacht races.

10 boats from around the South Island took to the lake, despite the weather.

Member of the Ashburton Sailing Club Mike O’Brien said, for a niche hobby, attendance was high.

“There are only four of us oldies (in Ashburton) that have nothing better to do.”

“For us to get 10 is a magic turnout.”

Timaru’s Model and Engineers Club and the Christchurch Model Yacht Club came over to race their EC-12 Class boats out on the lake as well.

O’Brien said a few passersby stopped to watch the races.

“I think the oldies like to sit and watch from their cars.

“The families like to come out and talk about the boats, what’s going on.”

The club has operated since 2000, O’Brien said, and the model boat branch takes to Lake Hood weekly.

“Quite often, we’ll let the kids sail the boats when they come out.”

He said the club is open to all model boat enthusiasts, and welcomes people to the group’s weekly meets on Thursdays and Sundays.

“Anybody with a boat can come along, the more the merrier.”

This Sunday at 11am, the club starts its ‘learn to sail’ workshop for kids, where they get to ride a real boat and learn how they work.

By Anisha Satya