Sailing: Diverse fleet to star in country's biggest regatta

Dolphins take to the air as they swim past the keeler Georgia during a previous Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta. Photo / Will Calver Ocean Photography

From tiny sports boats to behemoth superyachts, the Bay of Islands Sailing Week - the biggest sailing regatta of its kind in New Zealand - won't be short of action as it gets under way this week.

With more than 90 yachts competing in three days of spectacular racing, the regatta, now in its 14th year, will be particularly special for the Bay of Islands Sailing Week as the event is hosting the annual IRC Nationals competition on behalf of Yachting New Zealand.

"We've been told that Opua is just buzzing with the number of people here already, which is great for the local businesses," regatta spokesman Ray Haslar said.

The hugely diverse fleet at this year's event includes a mix of local boats, visitors from around New Zealand, and a growing international contingent who see the regatta as one of the Southern Hemisphere's premier yachting events.

Weather forecaster and Kerikeri local Mike Quilter will be briefing the sailors each morning on the expected conditions for each of the three days of racing, and says the event will be influenced by ex-tropical cyclone Victor, which is currently to the northeast of New Zealand.

"It's a bit difficult to predict at the moment. The low pressure system sweeping by to the east will affect us, but it's hard to say how," he said.

"It may be light and raining for the regatta, but it depends on what happens to the low and where it goes," he said.

Despite the possibility of light winds and rain, organisers are confident the event will be just as successful as previous years.

Bay of Islands Sailing Week starts with registration from 4-6pm today at the Bay of Islands Sailing Week Village in Opua.

- Racing takes place over three days, January 27-29, starting at 10.30 each morning, and finishing around 4 o'clock each afternoon.