Media Release
26 January 2011

Paddle, Sail and Engine Power for Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Auckland’s Anniversary Day Regatta will see a huge fleet of vessels from tugs and gaff riggers to flying catamarans, including the superstars of yester year and the rising stars of today, racing on the Waitemata Harbour on Monday, 31 January.

Tall ships, gaff riggers, sloops, racing keelers, multi-hulls, sailing dinghies, radio controlled boats, waka ama, elegant, perfectly restored classic yachts and an armada of over 20 vintage tugboats are ready for a full day of competitive sailing in the 171st Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta this coming holiday Monday.

“This is going to be a terrific event and a rare opportunity to see the full range of craft that have helped shape our city and the Auckland region including the regatta flagship, HMNZS Wellington with the Governor General and VIP guests aboard, and the workboats that plied the coastline,” said Regatta Organising Committee Chairman, Eric Mahoney. “We are going to see some hard out racing from the tugboats which will finish off Devonport Wharf. The beautifully restored classic yachts, like Ranger, will be moored in the viaduct and lit up on Sunday evening. We’ll have another race between Australian classic, Wraith of Odin and Auckland’s glorious Thelma, but age and grace will also give way to some of the fastest, most revolutionary designed and engineered, high tech racers on our harbour today.”

This year, dragon boats and waka ama races will also be a highlight and there is a huge contingent in the radio controlled boat contests. Entries for all classes are still open 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.

Princes Wharf and the viaduct will provide excellent vantage points of the start line and as the different classes continue up the course good viewing locations will be beaches around the harbour shoreline, North Head, Bastion Point and Orakei. There will be family entertainment onshore in the viaduct too with the seafood festival, Maritime Museum, displays, buskers and music and aerial displays by the Red Checkers and Warbirds will start about 11.15 am over Princes Wharf.

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

ENDS

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