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175th Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Media Kit
Issued on 5 December 2014

175th Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Monday 26 January 2015

Sailors, tug boat drivers, paddlers and radio control sailors, will do what they do best to celebrate 175 years since the day that Lieutenant Governor William Hobson took formal possession of what would be come the city of Auckland, in the name of Queen Victoria. The first of what is now Auckland Anniversary Regatta on the Waitemata Harbour consisted of an impromptu three-race event between rowing gigs, a match for a purse of five pounds between two whale-boats pulled by sailors, and another between two large canoes paddled by natives.

These days, at least 17 sailing and watersports participate from all over Auckland, in boats of all shapes and sizes, including remote controlled sailboats, dragonboats, tug boats, 100-year old yachts, and modern skiffs and harbour blasters.

“The Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is good fun,” says Regatta spokesperson Eric Mahoney.

“It’s a day that all eyes turn to the water, and we invite everyone that has a boat of just about any type, to join us, and the rest of Auckland to watch."

Full details for entrants and spectators, including event history, a programme of the day’s activities, and boat profiles, can be found at www.regatta.org.nz

[Attachment: Whats_Happening__175th_Ports_of_Auckland_Anniversary_Day_Regatta.pdf]

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Features for Regatta spectators:

Tug boat racing

Tug boats are work horses and it’s a rare occasion to see these mighty beasts put their throttle down. For up close viewing this year the course is focused on the Waitemata Harbour between the Harbour Bridge and Devonport and dozens of tugs, including the biggest, the William C Daldy, built in 1935 will start off Princes Wharf at 10am for a charge around the inner harbour, followed by a parade and display off Cooks Wharf, finishing in the Viaduct Harbour.

Front row seats on the Wharves

Be at the end of at Princes Wharf, Queens Wharf, or Cooks Wharf from 1140am to watch the starts in all fleet race divisions. Auckland has the largest fleet of vintage yachts still sailing, anywhere in the world and you will see much loved names like Waitangi, Thelma, Rainbow and Jessie Logan, on the water.

Centreboard classes

They are the grass roots favourites of New Zealand sailing and racing at six clubs includes the Opti and Starling Auckland Champs, sailing for people with disabilities, Sea Scouts, and much more. Full details of locations and start times are on regatta.org.nz and we recommend you arrive an hour prior to the race start to see the boats being rigged and launched from the beach.

Micro yachting

Incredibly dextrous given their small size, radio controlled yachts are fascinating for all ages to watch and are competitors in the radio controlled fleet include past and present America's Cup and top level sailors as well as weekend warriors. Remote control sailing takes place at Onehunga Lagoon, and St Mary’s Bay at Westhaven Marina, from 10am.

HMNZS Otago

HMNZS OTAGO, one of the Navy’s two Offshore Patrol Vessels, will join Anniversary Day activities in Auckland over the weekend. The ship will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 2pm, and Aucklanders are encouraged to come and meet the crew and see our Navy in person (free entry). On Monday OTAGO will act as Guard Ship for the Waitemata Harbour races. OTAGO conducts patrols, surveillance, supply and support activities over long distances around New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, and into the Pacific.

Dragon boaters

Dragon boats in full regalia, including dragon heads, drums and drummers, will fight it out at the Viaduct this Anniversary Day. Each boat is crewed by 10 paddlers, a drummer to keep the timing and a sweep or helm to keep the boat in a straight line, and the excitement and pressure, even in a friendly race, is immense. Racing runs from 9am until about 4pm.


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