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The annual Waikato Yacht Squadron Gulf Classic is more than just a sailing race, it's an event you can make a weekend of.
The racing itself is on Saturday, March 7, and is based around a circumnavigation of Waiheke Island plus some other islands, depending which of the three categories you have entered. The trailer yachts tackle a 40 mile or 60 mile course from the Maraetai Beach Boating Club and the keelboats race an 85-mile course.
But the event is also renowned for its social aspect from the moment teams arrive at Maraetai on the Friday.
"I love hard work, I could watch it all day," Dustin Wilson from the Waikato Yacht Squadron explained. "You can build quite the appetite watching the skipper rig and prep the boat. Once complete, the team heads upstairs to the restaurant and bar.
"We grab a table with an amazing view over the water (literally sitting over the water). the skipper heads over to the registration table to sign us in, the crew require more 'hydration' from that stair climb."
There are plenty of prizes built into the weekend, including the Fineline guess the length competitions, Boom Sailing Whitianga trips on Mercury Bay as well as Mt Gay Rum, vouchers from North Sails, Pine harbour electrical, Autotrail, Crombie Lockwood and Pine Harbour Marina. Alpha Electrical and FBO Beachlands have also supplied prizes and there is even an outboard motor from Eastern Marine.
"After [Sunday morning] prizegiving, it's time to watch the skipper pack up the boat and help him by stowing all the prizes in your car," Wilson said. "If you aren’t from the big smoke, why not take the opportunity to head into the city and check out the Viaduct basin? You might get to see the new Team New Zealand boat."
See here for more on the Gulf Classic, including notice of race and entry forms.
