The Auckland Anniversary Regatta starts today at 9am when the Parade of Sails leaves the Viaduct Harbour. Among the attractions is, for the first time, a race between 26 vintage tugboats. The first boats are expected back from the Hauraki Gulf at about 2.30pm.
9am: Parade of Sail
departs Viaduct (classics, launches, Soren Larsen).
10am-4pm: Electron racing at Westhaven.
International One Metre radio-controlled yacht racing at the Viaduct.
10.15am: Tugboat race from North Head round Narrow Neck buoy and finishing off North leading buoy about 10.45am.
10.30am: First in keelboat race series starts off Orakei Wharf with fleets following at five-minute intervals.
11am on: Governor-General Anand Satyanand fires the gun for Division One keelboats from HMNZS Te Kaha, flagship for the day.
Classic yachts, tall ships, waka races follow at five-minute intervals.
11.45am: Harbour Blast: last start from Orakei.
12pm: Tug boats assemble and parade through Viaduct.
Centreboard classes race from 11am from Tamaki Yacht Club, Kohimarama Yacht Club, Takapuna Boating Club, Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club.
2.30pm: First boats expected from Hauraki Gulf.
Where to watch
Good places to see the action include Bastion Pt, all along Tamaki Drive and North Head in Devonport.
