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NZ’s best-loved keelboat regatta is setting a course for a massive comeback in 2023, following last year’s cancellation of the regatta due to Covid, as well as funding and other organisational issues.
The Bay of Islands Sailing Week will now celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023 and organisers say there has already been an unprecedented amount of early interest.
Prior to entries opening, the regatta’s organising committee were inundated with requests from sailors keen to secure their spot at the hugely popular three-day regatta.
“We were getting so many calls and emails from people asking how they could enter," regatta publicity officer Helen Horrocks said. “People were obviously really disappointed the event didn’t go ahead last time, so I think everyone’s even more amped about coming to Bay Week this year.”
A flood of sign-ups have already been received since entries officially opened on September 14. The huge early interest is a positive sign that this could be the event’s biggest year yet in terms of entry numbers, which peaked pre-Covid at 139 boats.
Despite the loss of its headline sponsor this year, the event has recently received a significant funding boost from the Far North District Council’s event fund. Together with renewed support from the regatta’s existing family of sponsors, including major sponsors NZL Sailing Foundation, North Sails and Explore, the funding puts the event back in a far more viable position financially.
“Last year was incredibly hard for many of our sponsors so we’re very grateful that so many of them have come back on board to support us this year,” regatta chair Ian Clouston said.
The expectation of high participant numbers and associated entry fees will also help, so the future of the regatta looks far brighter than it did last year.
“Of course costs are increasing, so that makes things harder but people really love this event and they want it to continue, so we’re confident that’s going to be the case,” Clouston said.
The event is almost entirely volunteer-run, with more than 60 people dedicating their time to run the regatta each year. Funding for the event is generously provided by the Far North District Council, NZL Sailing Foundation, North Sails, Explore, Mount Gay Rum, Gurit, Bay of Islands Marina, Bluefix Boatworks and Luxury Real Estate, along with many other local businesses.
Bay of Islands Sailing Week takes place from January 24-27, 2023, and is based at the Opua Cruising Club. Racing takes place throughout the spectacular Bay of Islands.
Entries are welcomed from keelboats, trailer yachts, multihulls and sport boats. Class associations are encouraged to contact organisers about the possibility of running class racing at the event.
For more information and online entry form visit www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz.
