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Classic Launches

New event at Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Issue date

Entries have officially opened for the 2019 Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on January 28 and this year's event features a new race.

Along with the harbour racers, passage racers, radio controlled yachts and tugboats, classic launches will feature next year and there will be various centreboard regattas around Auckland. You can enter the race online here or, alternatively, there are printable entry forms available on the same page.

Centreboard classes feature at Narrow Neck Beach and the Tamaki Yacht Club and Maraetai Sailing Club will also host the three-day Auckland championships (Jan 26-28) and Takapuna Boating Club will host the two-day Anniversary Weekend Championships (Jan 27-28). Entries can be found at the respective host clubs or see the 2019 events timetable for details. 

The 2019 Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta will mark the 179th edition of this historic event, which was first held to celebrate the founding of the city of Auckland in 1840.

It's a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the birthday of the City of Sails, by putting to the water in crafts of all shapes and sizes. From the largest of the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet to the smallest remote-controlled yachts, there's an event for every boatie. Not to mention a spectacular and eventful day for spectators at viewing points all around the Auckland waterfront.

The classic launch race will see many of the grand old ladies being taken for a spin around the harbour and will make brilliant viewing for spectators. It will start immediately after the tugboat race and will follow the same course - starting at Westhaven at 11am, they'll race past Orakei before finishing at Queen's Wharf.

Among the many prizes and accolades to be won is becoming part of a spectacular trophy collection which dates back to the 1860s and is valued at nearly $100,000. These trophies are on permanent display at the Maritime Museum in the Viaduct and when you win a cup your name is engraved on it and you become a part of nautical history.

  • Be an early bird and be in to win a $1000 cash prize bonus at prizegiving. This spot prize is open to keelboats, tugboats and classic launches who enter by December 31  and attend the prizegiving ceremony on February 19, 2019.