Mr Robinson has been involved with the club for 40 years, competing in many New Year Regattas and seeing first-hand the event's success.
"New Year Regattas were huge in the early days. We were a very successful and well-recognised club for running regattas because of our facilities on shore and our organisation of running regattas. The conditions here are also very good for sailing," he said.
The event's prestige maintained a strong presence in the national sailing arena until numbers began to dwindle at the hands of new lifestyles and alcohol laws.
Napier Sailing Club commodore Paul Redman said the club's culture, including the New Year Regatta, has undergone significant changes over the years.
"It used to be a more social event. The alcohol bans were a lot more lenient. You could have a beer and rig your boat and then go out sailing," he said.
When asked if he had any regatta highlights Mr Robinson recalled Napier's 1985 New Year Regatta where Sir Russell Coutts sailed in the flying fifteen after winning gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
"I was star struck. At the time he was an Olympic champion and a great sailor. Coming through the junior classes, it was really quite something special."
Mr Robinson wasn't born into a sailing family but discovered his love for the water when he was 30 in 1977.
His interest was piqued when he was taken out in a Sunburst dinghy by a friend in New Plymouth.
"I decided there and then that sailing was a sport I wanted to be involved in. It's wonderful because you never stop learning."
With 40 years of sailing under his belt Mr Robinson has been part of the Napier Sailing Club for quite some time now, serving as club commodore for five years.
He said one of the more "unusual" aspects of the sport is that those of varying genders, ages and sailing experience can enjoy the water.
"The beauty of the sport is that you can come back into it at any time and any age. Like most sports there is a boat that suits every person, skill level and interest in going fast."
While the loss of the New Year Regatta will be felt by club members next year the club's Summer Regatta has naturally taken over as the club's primary event.
"To an extent the regatta has been superseded by our summer regatta which happened on the last weekend in November. This regatta fits well into national calendars," Mr Robinson said.
The Napier Sailing Club is expecting much activity over summer as it hosts the 21st Flying Fifteen World Championship and the NZ National Championship in February and March.
The club is also expecting 37 large coastal boats that are sailing to Napier as part of the 2017 Two Handed Round North Island Race in early March.
Mr Redman said those interested in volunteering or finding out more about the Napier Sailing Club are encouraged to head down to Ahuriri for a "nosey".