The City of Sails has a rich maritime history stretching back to the day the province of Auckland was founded in 1840. And on Monday 27 January 2025, Aucklanders will be treated to a spectacular display featuring the past, present and future of New Zealand sailing and seafaring, as the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta returns for its 185th year.
The annual one-day regatta is New Zealand’s oldest sporting event, and will be the flagship opening event of the six-week long Moana Auckland festival. More than just a yacht race, the regatta welcomes craft of all types and ages at venues across the city of Auckland. One of the biggest draw cards for spectators is a regular turnout of dozens of classic yachts, which offers an impressive live demonstration of Auckland’s illustrious yacht racing history. Juxtaposed against the cutting-edge SailGP fleet which will race in Auckland the weekend prior, these craft are a living reminder of just how far the sport of sailing has come in the last two centuries.
“It’s said that Auckland has the largest fleet of authentically restored classic yachts still sailing anywhere in the world,” says Regatta Chair Bill Lomas, “so seeing them together on the start line at Westhaven, as people would have in days gone by, is really special.”
Unlike many restored classics elsewhere in the world, the majority of the Auckland fleet haven’t been upgraded with modern deck gear. Original pulleys and winches give sailors as well as spectators a taste of what racing these vessels was really like for the sailors of old.
“It’s a long way from the modern boat building and computing technology that you’ll see on the SailGP or America’s Cup yachts,” says Lomas. “But we hope that with SailGP on the weekend before, it’ll give people renewed interest in seeing the roots of sailing. The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is really where it all started for yacht racing in New Zealand.”
But the regatta isn’t just about classic boats. In the dinghy and foiling classes, spectators will witness the grass roots of New Zealand sailing, where future sailing superstars are born. Olympic, America’s Cup and round the world sailors have cut their teeth at past Auckland Anniversary Day Regattas, with the likes of Liv Mackay now representing New Zealand in the SailGP circuit, and Olympian Josh Armit still regularly competing in the Windfoiling fleet hosted at Takapuna Boating Club on Anniversary Day.
With two of the seven small boat venues also hosting the Auckland Championships for several dinghy classes over Anniversary Weekend, there’s an even higher chance of spotting the sailing stars of the future in action. Murrays Bay Sailing Club will host what’s likely to be the regatta’s biggest fleet, with the Optimist and Starling fleets racing there over the long weekend. Last year’s fleet numbered a staggering 177 boats, despite challenging weather conditions, with young Opti and Starling sailors bravely battling 25 knot winds to compete in the event.
Meanwhile at Kohimarama Yacht Club, the 29er, 420 and 470 Association Auckland Championships will take place over three days, incorporating the Auckland Anniversary Regatta on Monday.
The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta also has divisions for tugboats, classic launches, waka ama, remote controlled yachts, and in the Viaduct Harbour, up to 360 paddlers will battle it out for victory in the Dragon Boat races, drawing huge crowds of onlookers.
The event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council, Hawaiian Airlines, Lawson’s Dry Hills Wines, Rothbury Insurance Brokers, Ellerslie Jewellers, Spirit of Adventure Trust, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Trillian Trust, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
More information about watching and taking part in the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta can be found at www.regatta.org.nz.
For more information about Moana Auckland visit aucklandnz.com/moana
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