The 2022 Regatta – the biggest on water event in Nelson – is for everyone – keelers, trailer sailors and sports boats. A large fleet of trailer yachts will be competing in the Trailer Yacht Regatta; keelers and sports boats will be competing to win the Nelson Regatta. Trailer sailors also have the opportunity to join the keelers in their races to and from the Abel Tasman National Park. A full program of racing starts on Friday 21st January and goes through to Tuesday 25th January 2022, show casing Tasman Bay with great sea breezes and a fantastic mountain backdrop.
The event kicks off on the evening of 21st January with the Invitation Rum Race in the harbour for all entrants. This is followed by Day One of the Trailer Yacht Regatta on Saturday and round the buoys racing for keelers with a race for the cruisers – use this day as a practice with your crew. Also during Saturday the annual Wellington to Nelson race will bring visiting keelers to Nelson. Sunday is Day Two of the Trailer Yacht Regatta and the start of the official Nelson Regatta which begins with three round the cans races for the Romeo and Juliet divisions, and two coastal races for the cruising boats. On Monday trailer yachts are welcome to join the keelers and cruisers as they set off across Tasman Bay for two days of coastal racing which will include a night and a beach party in Anchorage in the Able Tasman National Park. Tuesday sees the boats racing back to Nelson.
Feeders for the regatta include the RPNYC Wellington to Nelson Race (21st Jan) and the Waikawa Regatta. After celebrating in Nelson there is just enough time to fly out to join a boat for Bay Week.