KEY POINTS:
Tugboats are built for manoeuvrability and strength rather than speed. On Monday, in what may be a world first, 26 vintage tugs battle it out for line honours in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta tugboat race.
Among the contenders are the steam tug William C Daldy (1935), Bondi Belle
(1896), Romo (1904) and Ferro (1905). New Zealand's oldest registered tug, Phyllis (1916) will fight off the Port of Auckland's big three, Tamaki, Waka Kume and Busby, for a share of the glory.
The beautifully restored boats will line up in order of age in the Parade of Sail, to leave Viaduct Harbour at 9am.
Competing for the unofficial title of oldest boat in the regatta fleet will be Waitangi, the distinctive black-hulled, gaff-rigged (or gaffer) yacht built in 1894 and skippered by Tony Blake, brother of the late Sir Peter Blake.
The entry list for the historic classic yacht race is star studded. Alongside Waitangi will be Tawera (1936), recognisable by her cream-coloured sails and sleek hull.
The smaller classics include the gaffers Jonquil, Loloma and Thelma, recently liberated from her home in the Mediterranean by a group of local enthusiasts.
For a bit of high-speed action and excitement, the "Harbour Blast" will pit small mono- and twin-hull yachts against each other in two fast laps of the inner harbour.
About 500 vessels, including four tall ships, one waka and hundreds of keelers will take part in the regatta, one of New Zealand's oldest sporting competitions.
The first regatta, which was held 167 years ago, featured races between skiffs and gigs rowed by the crews of ships in port.
There may be one or two early showers on Monday, but they should clear the air for a fine day.
The best vantage points will be Bastion Point, North Head, East Coast Bays, Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf and Viaduct Harbour.
For a close-up look, the classic yacht fleet will be moored in the Viaduct Harbour on Sunday night.
The Regatta Programme
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 by 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.