28 January 2006
Media Release
Vintage Spectacle as Classic Yachts Light Up Viaduct Harbour

Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour will echo with the spirit of a bygone age of elegance when a fleet of some 25 classic yachts turn on their rigging lights this evening on the eve of the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta.

First held 167 years ago, the Anniversary Day Regatta is New Zealand’s oldest sporting event and a major fixture on the sailing calendar.

Some 500 vessels, including 26 vintage tugboats, a rare spectacle any where in the world, four tall ships and hundreds of keel boats and speedy smaller craft as well as one waka, will compete for over 50 silver trophies in a full day of races, watched over by Royal New Zealand Navy frigate, ‘Te Kaha’.

The contingent of 25 classic yachts is racing on Sunday from Mahurangi Harbour to Orakei Wharf and will be berthed overnight Sunday in the Viaduct Harbour with the lights going on at dusk so that spectators have an opportunity to view these craft, many of them over a century old, at close quarters.

The Parade of Sail, marking the beginning of the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, will leave Viaduct Harbour at 9:00am tomorrow (Monday, January 29) with the star studded fleet of vintage tugboats and classic yachts leading the way.

The tugboat race starts off North Head at 10:15am and the historic classic yacht race starts at 11.05am from Orakei Wharf with other classes starting at five minute intervals.

The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is proudly sponsored by Auckland City, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Ports of Auckland, Classic Hits 97FM, Lion Foundation, AA Travel and Spirit of Adventure Trust.

Regatta Programme

9.00am
Parade of Sail departs Viaduct (Classics, Launches, Soren Larsen etc)

10.00am – 4.00pm
Electron (radio-controlled model racing yachts) racing at Westhaven
International One Metre radio controlled yacht racing at the Viaduct

10.15am
Tugboat race from North Head round Narrow Neck buoy and finishes off North leading buoy by 10.45am

10.30am
First in keelboat race series starts off Orakei Wharf with fleet following at 5 minute intervals

11.00am on
Governor General fires the gun for Division One keelboats from HMNZS Te Kaha.
Classic yachts, Tall Ships, Waka races follow at 5 minute intervals

11.45am:
Harbour Blast: last start from Orakei

12.00pm:
Tug Boats assemble and parade through Viaduct

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

Spectator Points and Activities
Bastion Point, North Head, East Coast Bays, Tamaki Drive, Orakei Wharf and Viaduct Harbour where the vintage tugboats will be parading, this time in order of placing, after their race at around noon and there will be continuous free family entertainment around the Viaduct on the Sunday and Anniversary Day itself. Emirates Team New Zealand base will be open to the public from 12:30 pm to 5:30pm so supporters can bid them farewell and good luck to bring the America’s Cup home.

www.regatta.org.nz

ENDS

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