Yachties celebrate Auckland’s Birthday

by Joyce Talbot on 30 Jan 2006 Auckland geared up for one exciting extravaganza and celebrated her birthday with the Auckland Harbour Festival - the NZ Herald Anniversary Day Regatta being the grand finale today Monday 30 January.

The Governor General formally started the Regatta by firing the start gun for the A Division fleet from the Royal NZ Navy vessel ‘Te Kaha’.

Auckland Anniversary Regatta Chairman Eric Henry encouraged boaties to join in the day’s celebrations.

'Don’t miss out on being part of our oldest sporting event, the NZ Herald Anniversary Regatta. By becoming a part of this fabulous history in the making, you can help us show the world why we are indeed the City of Sails. We look forward to seeing you out there on the water, supporting our Regatta and celebrating Auckland’s birthday,' says Mr Henry.

To set the scene for the 166th Regatta, our yachting heritage of classic yachts and launches followed by the Tall Ships will form a Parade of Sail, gracing the Waitemata Harbour with their beautiful lines on Monday 30 January from 9.30am and head up to their start line off Orakei Wharf.

Start time: 11.15am

The Tall Ships will also race – a spectacular sight is promised as they head up under the Harbour Bridge.

Race Schedule:

Keelers and Multihulls:

Race starts commencing at 1000hrs from: Orakei, Mahurangi, Kawau, Islington Bay, Orapiu

Performance Class yachts including the M Class:

Blast off from Orakei at 12noon and race an inner harbour course giving spectators a fantastic opportunity to view some of the quickest boats on the water.

Small Boat venues:

Race starts from 1100hrs at Kohimarama YC, Tamaki YC, Takapuna BC, Northcote-Birkenhead YC

Manukau Harbour:

Race starts from 1030hrs at Manukau Yacht & Motor Boat club

Electrons:

Race starts from 1000hrs at Westhaven Marina


Auckland Anniversary Regatta History:

The regatta itself is even older than the America’s Cup event – the first Auckland regatta was held on the day the city was founded, on 18 September 1840, 11 years before the first America’s Cup contest was sailed in 1851.

That first regatta on the Waitemata Harbour was an impromptu three-race event that took place after representatives of Lieutenant Governor William Hobson rowed ashore from the barque Anna Watson and took formal possession of the site in the name of Queen Victoria.

A report in The New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette of 24 September 1840 said the official party rowed back to the Anna Watson and then: 'After partaking of luncheon, a regatta took place between a five-oared gig belonging to the Surveyor-General and a six-oared gig belonging to the Anna Watson, both pulled excellent style by amateurs. This was followed by a match for a purse of five pounds between two whale-boats pulled by sailors, and by another between two large canoes paddled by natives.'

The Auckland event has been held every year but one since – though in 1842 the date was shifted from September to 29 January. In 1900 the regatta was cancelled due to the war in South Africa.

The America’s Cup has gone, but competitors in one race in Auckland’s Anniversary Regatta will compete for a trophy that is even older: the Lewis Tankard. Whereas the America’s Cup was created in 1848, the Georgian sterling silver Lewis Tankard is hallmarked London 1744.

The oldest cup among the Auckland Anniversary Regatta trophies is the sterling silver Agnes Cup, hallmarked London 1861 and first presented as an anniversary regatta trophy in 1862. With a replacement value of $15,000, it is the most valuable of 50 cups and trophies that Auckland Anniversary Regatta Inc has just had repaired, polished and valued to restore them to their former glory in keeping with regatta’s rejuvenation.