The centerpiece of the boat sheds at Oriental Bay is the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. This community of sailing and rowing enthusiasts began in 1840. By the 1870s, they were regularly sponsoring regattas. In 1883, the yachtsmen formed the Port Nicholson Yacht Club (its Royal charter was granted in 1921). This lead to the establishment of the New Zealand Yachting Association in 1891. In 1905, they built the Clyde Quay Boat Harbour (now capable of mooring 72 boats). During World War II, this marina was occupied by the U. S. Navy. In 1958, one of the war-time buildings was converted into this clubhouse. Since being refurbished in 1987, it houses the yacht club and a sailing academy. In 2015, Coene’s Bar & Eatery was added. The restaurant’s name honors Edgar J Coene, the commander of the U. S. Pacific Fleet who occupied the site during the war.
