Sailors Ahoy - Entries Now Open for Regatta

Media Release 12 December 2006

Sailors Ahoy - Entries Now Open for Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

The Waitemata Harbour will come alive with hundreds of craft from sloops to tugboats as Auckland celebrates its 167th birthday on January 29 2007 with the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, one of the biggest one-day regattas in the world.

“We want to encourage sailors young and old to join the Regatta and create a spectacle on the water for Aucklanders to enjoy from the many vantage points around the city from Devonport to Bastion Point,” said chairman of the Regatta organising committee, Eric Henry.

“It will be a wonderful day of sport and entertainment, opening with a parade of sail and the Governor General firing the starting gun from the navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha. We’ll see Emirates Team New Zealand on the water going through their paces. There’ll be a tug and workboat parade of power, a tall ship or two in the Viaduct, along with the classic yachts and launches and fleets of dinghy classes and keelers, all battling it out for line honours."

Boating and sailing clubs from around the Auckland region will be out in force on the day to compete in a full day of races while entertainment with a maritime flavour will be provided for spectators on shore.

The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta enjoys wide community and business support with sponsors in 2007 including Auckland City, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Ports of Auckland, Classic Hits 97FM, Lion Foundation, AA Travel and Spirit of Adventure Trust “This is Auckland’s Day,” said Mr Henry. “Whether you are on land or sea, it’s an opportunity to get out and celebrate the glorious environment we live in."

Entries are now open and further details of the programme on land and sea will be released shortly.

Auckland City Anniversary Day Regatta On-Water Schedule

9.00am

Parade of Sail recapturing the glory and spectacle of our maritime heritage leaves from Viaduct Harbour up to their race start line off Orakei Wharf

10.30am on

Racing starts off Orakei Wharf with first in keel boat series

11.00am on

Governor General fires the gun for Division One keelers. Classic yachts, Tall Ships, Waka and the Harbour Blast follow Centreboard classes race from 11:00 am from Tamaki Yacht Club, Kohimarama Yacht Club, Takapuna Boating Club, Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club

2.30pm

First boats expected from the Islands of the Hauraki Gulf

For more information and entry forms go to: www.regatta.org.nz or phone 0800 REGATTA (0800 734 2882)

ENDS

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