Regional roundup: Toasting 100 years on the water

Our NZ Community Trust regional development managers share the latest news and updates from across the country, including two storied clubs celebrating a remarkable milestone.

Worser Bay Boating Club celebrated its centenary two weekends ago. Photo above and main picture / Melanie Parkin, Widelens Photography

100 not out for Worser Bay, Wakatere

Two clubs with deep roots in New Zealand sailing are marking a major milestone in 2026, as Worser Bay Boating Club and Wakatere Boating Club each celebrate their centenary year.  

Worser Bay celebrated its 100th birthday at its Wellington clubhouse two weekends ago, with festivities including the launch of a commemorative book, The Worser Way: A Century of Sailing at Worser Bay Boating Club 1926-2026, followed by a weekend of sailing and social events. Strong northerlies provided a dramatic backdrop to club racing, as members watched from the clubhouse before gathering to share stories and formally mark the milestone with a centenary lunch.

Wakatere Boating Club will be celebrating its 100th birthday later this month. Photo / Supplied

Further north, Wakatere Boating Club will celebrate 100 years of sailing from 27 February to 1 March, marking 100 years since its founding by 21 members on Narrow Neck Beach. The weekend will feature on-water and shore-based events, including a heritage race day, social functions and the launch of the club’s own centenary book, Wakatere 100.

Founded in 1926, Wakatere has grown from a small group of boating enthusiasts into a thriving sailing community. Over the past century, the club has produced national and international champions while introducing generations of local families to sailing through its learn-to-sail programmes.

Current commodore Greg Salthouse, whose grandfather John (Jack) Brooke (pictured below) was one of the club's founding members, says the book reflects the strong sense of family at the heart of Wakatere. "This is really the story of our people, past and present, and the spirit that has carried the club through 100 years."

Twelve of the founding members. Photo / Wakatere Boatting Club

Adding to the centenary theme, Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club will launch its commemorative 100-year history book on 16 February. The book, authored by the late Gun Caundle, chronicles the club's history between 1920 and 2020 and will be launched at the club with guest speaker Peter Burling.

Meet SailGP stars at Royal Akarana Yacht Club!

With SailGP in Auckland this weekend, Royal Akarana Yacht Club is offering sailors a rare chance to meet the world's top SailGP athletes. An exclusive meet-and-greet will offer priority seating for RS Feva Inspire athletes and is open to RAYC Academy sailors, RAYC members, and sailors from other Auckland clubs. Fans are encouraged to book now to secure a spot and meet the athletes, as spaces are limited.

Click here to secure your spot.

Dozens of sailors have completed learn-to-sail courses over the past weeks. Photo / Queen Charlotte Yacht Club

Dozens of sailors complete LTS courses

Queen Charlotte Yacht Club is enjoying an epic summer of Learn to Sail, with 44 young sailors completing courses over the past three weeks. Head coach Annabelle Rennie-Younger said the programme has been a huge success, supported by dedicated volunteer buddy coaches. Many of the new sailors are set to be back on the water again in the coming weeks.

Kohimarama Yacht Club hosted a successful Auckland Championships. Photo / Kohimarama Yacht Club

Weather can't spoil Opti and Starling fun

Kohimarama Yacht Club hosted the Starling and Optimist Auckland Championships over Anniversary Weekend, with challenging conditions limiting racing but testing sailors' resilience. Winners included Lauchy Wills (Howick Sailing Club), taking first overall in the Optimist open fleet alongside first female Flora Stevens (Glendowie Boating Club), while Asha Satterthwaite (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) won the white fleet with Frankie Barker (Napier Sailing Club) as the first male.

Callum Hyde (Murrays Bay Sailing Club) claimed the Starling title, with Lucy Luxford (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) the top female. Despite winds reaching 25 knots on the final day, competitors across all fleets delivered strong performances in tough conditions.

Full results here. 

Taupō event set for March 

Mark your calendars for 14 and 15 March for the fourth instalment of the North Island Traveller Series - the Bayleys Taupo Centreboard Regatta at Lake Taupo Yacht Club. Lake sailing presents shifty winds and freshwater challenges, making it the perfect preparation for upcoming Lake Macquarie events. 

Click here for more information.

Black Foils star Blair Tuke was at the prizegiving. Photo / Manly Sailing Club

Regattapalooza gets Black Foils boost

The PredictWind O’pen Skiff Regattapalooza wrapped up on a high at Manly Sailing Club after four days of training, racing and beach fun, with 52 young sailors taking part across gold, silver and development fleets. Black Foils star Blair Tuke attended the prizegiving, praising the sailors for "having fun and encouraging each other in some really challenging conditions".

Top awards went to Finn Manson for Sportsmanship, Ella Tiedemann (Perseverance), Austin van den Heever (Attitude/Spirit), Lilla Brazle (Best at Limbo), and the entire development fleet for Most Improved. Each sailor also received a signed Black Foils cap courtesy of the Black Foils team.

Organiser and club captain Joel Brazle thanked volunteers, sponsors PredictWind, the Russell Coutts Sailing Foundation, New World Whangaparāoa and Makana Confections for making the event possible. 

Full results here.

Steve and Martina Harper. Photo / Supplied

Waikawa race the perfect blend of racing and fun

The WineWorks Marlborough Wine Race saw yacht and cruising boat entrants, alongside sponsors WineWorks, Interpack and Liquid Action, enjoy a day of racing and wine tasting. The annual event, hosted by Waikawa Boating Club, saw line honours go to Matt Michel on Astruso carrying Catalina Sounds, while David Grigg on Global took first place on handicap. Second place on handicap was Steve Harper on Mariel with 14-year-old daughter Martina at the helm, and third went to Bill Crossen on Sequin carrying Nautilus Estate and Lawson’s Dry Hills. 

Optis back at New Plymouth

The Toyota New Zealand Optimist National Championships will be held at New Plymouth Yacht Club from 3 to 7 April 2026, bringing together junior sailors from across the country for fleet racing in the iconic dinghy class. The event is a key fixture on the national sailing calendar and also forms part of the NZIODA ranking series for the 2025-26 season. 

More information, including the Notice of Race and sailing instructions, is available here.

New addition to endurance race

The Altex 2026 24-Hour Endurance Yacht Race takes place on 14-15 March 2026, starting at 11am off Point Howard Wharf, and hosted by Lowry Bay Yacht Club. Entries are now open with cruising yachts, keelboats, and trailer yachts competing for the Gibson Sheat Cup, with all boats racing on handicap. A new 12-Hour Adventure Yacht Race is also introduced for 2026, offering a shorter, high-energy challenge. 

For more information, contact race director Brent Porter at 24hr-race@lbyc.org.nz.

Season officially underway for Takapuna

Takapuna Boating Club kicked off its 2026 season with the first club sailing day on Sunday, 1 February. Despite light winds and a modest turnout, participants enjoyed time on the water, and the club welcomed several new members. The next club sailing day is scheduled for Sunday, 22 February, with details to be shared via the club’s WhatsApp group closer to the date.

Register now for O'pen Skiff regattas

Registration is now open for the 2026 North Island O'pen Skiff Championships, taking place at Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club from 27 February to 1 March. The regatta welcomes sailors of all levels across Gold, Silver and Development fleets.

Click here for more information and to register.

Meanwhile, those in the South Island are encouraged to get their entries in for the South Island O'pen Skiff, RS Feva and RS Quest championships. The event will be held at Macandrew Bay Boating Club from 27 to 29 March.

Click here to enter.

Foil Bay of Islands fast approaching

Foil Bay of Islands 2026 is just under a fortnight away, running from 20-22 February at Bay of Islands Yacht Club. The festival of foiling will feature Gold and Silver fleet racing, social divisions, coaching clinics, gear displays, and off-the-water activities. Early registration is encouraged to help organisers finalise race formats, clinics and weekend plans.

Full details are available here.

29er, 420 Auckland champs crowned

The 29er and 420 Auckland Championships were held at Murrays Bay Sailing Club earlier this month, with sailors braving wild North Island conditions to complete an eight-race series. Nelsen Meacham and Oli Stone took the overall win in the 29er, while Zofia Wells and Charlotte Handley won in the 420. Despite challenging weather, race management and competitors pushed through, with Monday’s Anniversary Day races finalising the results. 

Full results here.

Sailors from Marakura, Riverton, Wanaka, and Stewart Island competed in last year's regatta.

Sailing and seafood: Trailer yachts join Oyster Regatta

The dates are set for the annual Bluff Yacht Club Oyster Regatta, a highlight of Southland sailing. Known for its combination of sailing, seafood, and southern hospitality, this year’s event will take place on 14–15 March and will also host the New Zealand Trailer Yacht Championship, with trailer yachts competing on a separate course. The club will provide boat parking, camping, and meals throughout the weekend. Last year’s regatta featured 30 yachts, 15+ knots of wind, and competitors from Marakura, Riverton, Wanaka, and Stewart Island yacht clubs, and was celebrated for its Southern Ocean sailing conditions.

Click here for more information.