Auckland Anniversary Regatta organisers are encouraging sailors and spectators to mark their diaries now for one of the world's oldest sailing regattas.
Regatta spokesperson, Eric Mahoney says the 173 year old event has something for everyone - events for all types of yachts big and small, dragon boats, tugboats remote controlled yachts, and more.
"If you grew up in Auckland, you may have memories of getting up early on Auckland Anniversary Day to get down to the water," Eric Mahoney says. "If you weren't going sailing, you were probably looking for a picnic spot with a view of the harbour, so you could watch hundreds of sails moving around the racecourse."
"The world has changed a lot over the decades, but Anniversary Regatta is still about one thing: boating. The classic yachts of yesterday are joined by grand prix race machines, children's dinghies, tug boats and dragon boats, and it all comes together for a fantastic spectacle."
Eric urges anyone that owns a boat to get it out on the water for Auckland Anniversary Regatta, and for anyone that knows someone who owns a boat, to convince them to take part in the festivities.
"There are 16 events happening in different parts of the Hauraki Gulf, starting at 10am on Monday 28 January," he says.
The regatta is designed for spectators, and times and places to watch from will be communicated closer to Anniversary Day.
Auckland Anniversary Regatta events include:
-
Tugboat Race -
Waitemata Harbour Races (nine divisions for keelboats, tall ships and waka) -
Harbour Challenge from Orakei Wharf - M Class, Flying 15, Sports Boats, Trailer Yachts etc, Trapeze/High Performance Dinghy, Skiffs, Foil Moths and all 'Off the Beach' multihulls -
The Mahurangi to Orakei Wharf H28 Passage Racecourse -
The Mahurangi to Princes Wharf Passage Race - for keelboats -
The Ponui to Princes Wharf Passage Race -
Centreboard racing -
Kohimarama Yacht Club (P Class; Starling; Arrow; NS14; 420: Splash: 29er; RS:X; Techno 293 Boards) -
Maraetai Sailing Club (Starlings) -
Narrowneck Beach (Sea Scout Cutters) -
Northcote-Birkenhead Yacht Club (Idle Along; Navy Crown; Y W Heron; X3; Optimist Green; 2.4 mR; Access Liberty; Jolly Boats) -
Tamaki Yacht Club (Laser; Laser Radial; Laser 4.7; Mistral; Phase II) -
Wakatere Boating Club (Sunburst, Hobie 16, Optimists) -
Dragon Boat Racing at the Viaduct Harbour -
Waka ama Canoes - Okahu Bay to Princes Wharf -
Radio Controlled Yachts (Westhaven and Wattle Downs)
Full details of racing can be found at regatta.org.nz.
