Last call to the 170th Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

by .. on 27 Jan 2010
Entries are due to close for sailors to participate in New Zealand’s oldest sporting event celebrating Auckland’s Anniversary Day and maritime history.

A fleet of vintage, classic and modern day vessels including tall ships, gaff riggers, sloops, racing keelers, sailing dinghies, radio controlled boats, elegant classic yachts and an armada of over 20 perfectly restored tugboats are readying for a full day of competitive sailing in the 170th Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, 1 February.

'This is a unique event for sailors and for spectators on shore to see our maritime heritage in action on the Waitemata Harbour,' said Regatta Organising Committee Chairman, Eric Mahoney. 'This year we also have interest from across the Tasman with two classic beauties entered to compete for line honours against some of Auckland’s legendary classic racing yachts and there will also be a great to watch tussle on the water with the vintage tugboats and workboats racing to the finish line off Devonport.'

Entries are due to close Wednesday, January 27, so there is still time to enter at www.regatta.org.nz or phone 0800 REGATTA (0800 734 2882). It costs $15.00 for centreboard yachts and radio controlled yachts to enter and $25.00 for tugboats, keelboats and multihulls.

On the Sunday evening, 31 January, some of the stars of the classic yacht fleet, fresh from a day’s racing, will be berthed and lit up at the Viaduct Harbour at O’Hagan’s Landing (by Simunovich Fisheries).

Around 11.30am on the Monday after the tugboat race and a parade and display to show off their power and agility, some of these old-timers will be berthed at the same place and members of the public are welcome to look them over.

There will be a lot of activity around the viaduct as the regatta fleet heads to the race grounds in the harbour under the watch of the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana, the regatta flagship for the day. HMNZS Taupo, one of the new inshore navy patrol vessels, will be the official race committee boat for the 2010 event and will be positioned on the race start line off the end of Princess Wharf enabling spectators on shore to get up close to the action. There will be excellent vantage points around the harbour shoreline and North Head, Bastion Point and Orakei.

Onshore, there will be a lively programme of entertainment all weekend including the Auckland Buskers Festival, the Auckland Seafood Festival and free entry to Voyager National Maritime Museum.

The family of regatta sponsors headed by Oceanbridge Shipping Limited also includes Auckland City Council, Ports of Auckland Limited, Classic Hits 97.4FM, Southern Trust, Lion Foundation and the Spirit of Adventure Trust with generous support from the Royal New Zealand Navy.