Longstanding and popular local members John and Maureen Knight were chosen to carry out the official cutting of the 60th anniversary cake in the presence of a large turnout of sailors to open an intense summer season.

"John and Maureen have been great contributors to the club for many years, " Commodore Tony Hillier said.

"They do a lot of work behind the scenes keeping the club precinct in order by coming out here most weekends during the off-season mowing grass and cleaning up the clubhouse, which is why they were the deserving joint recipients of the Clubperson award this year."

Tony briefly outlined the program for one of the club's busiest ever seasons, to include a regional regatta, training weekends for both junior and experienced sailors and another annual Discover Sailing day.

Following the formalities, sailors took to the water for the first round of the prestigious pennant series.

In fresh, but unusually constant wind conditions club champion Johno Knight crossed the line first ahead of Andrew Pearce in a small field of six boats.

Pennant points went to Peter Knight who finished eight seconds ahead of Jan Ibs von Seht on corrected time, with Johno Knight in third place.