Media release

9 January 2007

Tugs of Love in Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta Spectacle

The Waitemata Harbour will come alive with a splash and roar as over a dozen vintage tugboats and workboats lead off the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, January 29, with a show of power and age before beauty as they parade from the Viaduct Harbour to their race line off North Head for a spectacular contest.

“These tugboats have a close association with the history and development of Auckland and indeed much of New Zealand so it is fitting that these beautifully restored and fully working craft, the oldest well over 100 years old, are part of the celebration of our city’s birthday,” said Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta Organising Committee Chairman, Eric Henry.

“The tugboats, including the William C Daldy, one of the loveliest and strongest steam tugs afloat today and the former ‘Queen’ of Auckland Harbour, will create a wonderful spectacle to bring alive a bygone era. They’ll parade in single file in order of age from the Viaduct Harbour at 9:00 am on Anniversary day to be in position for the 10:15 am starting flag for a 5 nautical mile race which will display the extreme manoeuvrability and speed of these wonderfully built and engineered craft.”

Spectators will be able to view the historic craft at Viaduct Harbour, where there will be a range of family fun activities and living history on display, or catch the excitement of the race from vantage points at Bastion Point, North Head, Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf, or East Coast Bays.

Mr Henry says the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, New Zealand’s oldest sporting event first held 167 years ago, is attracting keen interest from sailors with hundreds of entries for all classes coming in steadily. Entry forms are available on line at www.regatta.org.nz or phone 0800 Regatta (0800 734 2882).

“It’s a fabulous celebration of our sailing heritage with craft ranging from keelers to wakas participating in the full schedule of races and a great day for anyone in Auckland to go down to the water and enjoy our wonderful environment simply as a spectator.”

The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta also 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.

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
10.15am
Tug boats and work boat races
10.30am on
Start of first keel boat race offf Orakei Wharf; other classes start at five minute intervals
11.00am on
Division One keelers, Classic yachts, Tall Ships, Wakas and the Harbour Blast
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 to arrive at Orakei Wharf from the islands of the Hauraki Gulf

Entry forms go to:
www.regatta.org.nz or phone 0800 REGATTA (0800 734 2882)

Best Vantage Points for Spectators
Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf, Bastion Point, North Head or East Coast Bays - and Viaduct Harbour

ENDS

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