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Auckland Anniversary Regatta

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The World's Largest One Day Yacht Racing Regatta on Auckland Anniversary Weekend - 2010

Yacht racing is a great way to celebrate Auckland Anniversary! The birthday of the city of Auckland New Zealand has been celebrated since 1840 and will be next celebrated on February 1, 2010. It is one of my favourite New Zealand holidays, as it is fun, festive, a day off work for nearly everyone and involves yacht racing. As Auckland's nick name is the "City of Sails," it is fitting that the world's largest one day yacht racing regatta take place on Auckland Anniversary Day. Kiwi's don't just sit around and wait for Monday's big yacht race, we party all weekend! The weekend long festivities include the whole family. Aucklander's who don't make it up to the city, can often be found celebrating at one of the local islands, as most of the regions yacht clubs either participate in the Auckland Regatta, or offer their own.

Unless otherwise labeled all photos copyright by Rhonda Albom

Countdown to Auckland Anniversary Regatta

Auckland Anniversary Regatta: January 31, 2011

Sunday Night Fireworks to Celebrate Auckland Anniversary

Fire and Light Show

Don't miss the spectacular fireworks display over the Auckland Harbour, along with musical entertainment - both modern and classical. Fireworks begin at 10:30pm on Sunday 31 Jan. 2010.

To help get you in the mood, here are a few firework items available from Zazzle:



Or, Make Your Own Custom T-shirtCustom T-Shirts

Auckland Seafood Festival

Saturday, 30 January to Monday, 1 February 2010

Keeping with the maritime theme, the Auckland Seafood Festival is another event held over the three day weekend. Toted as "a three-day celebration of the fruits of the sea," it will run from midday until 7pm for the three days in 2010. Highlights of last year's events included:
  • An opportunity to sample some of the delicacies caught in the waters around Auckland
  • A chance to touch various sea creatures
  • Witness the blessing of the Fleet
  • Enter in a greasy pole competition or a fish filleting competition
  • Listen to live music
  • Watch the experts in seafood cooking demonstrations


Detailed schedules will be published on the official Auckland Seafood Festival Webpage or check back here for details closer to the event.

Viaduct Showcase

A Weekend of Fun

Leading up to the big regatta, holiday makers can enjoy entertainment all weekend. Some of the excitment will include:
  • Auckland International Buskers Festival- Friday to Monday from midday to 6pm plus some night shows. Free locations include Vulcan Lane, downtown, Princes Warf and Viaduct Harbour
  • Fullers Anniversary Day Regatta Spectator Cruise - watch the race from the sea - 9.30 -12.30 on Monday February 1, 2010
  • Special Sailings on Spirit of New Zealand - all weekend long
  • Port of Auckland boat tours
  • International Customs Day on Saturday from 11am-5pm at Viaduct Harbour
  • Free access (donation requested) to the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum (Saturday - Monday)
  • Fiesta Of Colours parade and dance party in South American style - Sunday at 7:30, just before the fireworks
  • Karaka Million race at Ellerslie on Sunday from 5pm (gates open at 3.30)
  • St Jerome's Auckland Laneway Festival on Monday February 1.


See the Official government page on Anniversary Day for more details.

Approaching the Start Line

In 2008 we chose to race out of the local yacht club rather than participate in the big regatta. So, we along with 30 or so other yachts set sail from the northern part of the Auckland Region out to one of the local islands for the weekend. This photo was taken from before the start, so most of the yachts are not lined up yet.

Monday 1st February 2010

Mark the date now so you won't miss the next Auckland Anniversary Regatta!

Finally the Big Event

The Auckland Regatta

Race day is very busy and quite exciting with hundreds of yachts on the water, either participating as racers or spectators. The day typically starts off with a Parade of Sails, lovely to watch from land or sea. The fleet of classic yachts, keelers, multi-hulls, tugboats and tall ships sail from the harbor to the start line.

In 2009 the Tugboat races started the festivities demonstrating maneuverability and speed. Next came the yachts, with groups starting off in 5 minute intervals and heading out on a timed course which the fastest boats complete in about 90 minutes.

Classic boats follow the modern ones, then the Tall ships have their start.

Big and small alike participate in different races throughout the day. The one man optimists, centerboard boats, trailer sailers, and even the radio controlled yachts all get an opportunity to race in celebration of Auckland's birthday.

Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand Photographic Print
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Want to Join in the Fun?

You might want to stock up on a few things

I use all of these products below when we sail, although I have different shoes. I chose to put these here, as they actually look nicer than the ones I wear. Having the right gear really makes a difference in how I feel about the day. Weather can turn quickly here in New Zealand, so like the boy scouts say, be prepared. As long as it's allowed in the rules, we even use the GPS on foggy day races as sometimes we can't quite see the next mark. We always use it when we cruise.
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Original Account of the First Auckland Anniversary Day

From 'The City of Auckland New Zealand, 1840-1920' by John Barr

The following extract from 'The New Zealand Advertises and Bay of Islands Gazette' of September 24, 1840, sets forth in detail the ceremony attending the establishment of the city: -"The barque 'Anna Watson', having on board several officers of the Government, mechanics, labourers etc., anchored in the Harbour of Waitemata on Tuesday, the 15th instant, and the site for the intended settlement on its shores having been selected by the Surveyor- General, on Friday, the 18th September, at 1p.m., the ceremony of taking formal possession in the name of Her Majesty was duly performed.

The whole party having landed, the British Flag was hoisted on a staff, erected on a bold promontory commanding a view of the entire harbour. The Flag was immediately saluted by fifteen guns from the barque 'Platina', after which Her Majesty's health was drunk at the foot of the flagstaff, and greeted by three time three hearty cheers. The 'Anna Watson' then fired a salute of seven guns in honour of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, which was responded to by three hearty cheers, and 'one cheer more' from those on shore.

The party then returned to the Anna Watson, and after partaking of luncheon, a regatta took place between a five-oared gig belonging to the Surveyor-General and a six-oared gig belonging to the Anna Watson, both pulled in excellent style by amateurs. This was followed by a match for a purse of five pounds between two whale-boats pulled by Sailors, and by another between two large canoes paddled by Natives.

And Thus concluded the ceremony of founding the first British Settlement established under the auspices of the Government in this part of New Zealand; a ceremony the more interesting, as this settlement is intended for the future Capital of what we may venture to predict will one day become a mighty Empire. The Officers of the Government present on the occasion consisted of the 1 Police Magistrate, the 2 Colonial Surgeon, the 3 Harbour Master, the 4 Superintendent of Works, the 5 Sub-Protector of Aborigines, and the 6 Surveyor-General and his lady."

A Brief Historical Timeline of the Auckland Regatta


1840: The first Auckland Regatta - an impromptu event held on the day the city was founded in September.

1842: The date was shifted from September to January.

1850: It became the official celebration of the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand.

1876: The provinces of New Zealand were abolished. (Auckland Anniversary day is still a statutory holiday throughout the much larger historic Auckland Province, not just the present-day Auckland Region.)

1900: The only time the Auckland Anniversary Regatta was ever cancelled. It was due to the war in South Africa.

1903: Power craft joined into the Regatta.

1914: The first Anniversary Regatta speed championship was held.

1917: The appearance of the x class, the first single design boat.

1919: Inclusion of a flying race.

1940: Entries gradually increased until the Auckland Anniversary Regatta grew to be the biggest one-day Regatta in the world.

From the regatta's history page at www.regatta.org.nz:
"Over all those years the Auckland Anniversary Regatta has reflected the changing social trends. The first ten years it was a naval occasion, celebrated by the crews of the Port's commercial sailing ship, and then as the town grew and built, crewed in the main by professional yachtsmen. It was not until the 1960's that women really came into yachting. Children followed and today the all-male crewed hard driving yacht is a thing of the past.

Looking back over the years the harbour is the same, the wind is the same, only the people and social customs have changed. Today the Regatta is a family Regatta and long may it remain that way, for of all the sports, yachting is truly a family sport."

Auckland Harbour Bridge and Waitemata Harbour at Dusk, New Zealand
Auckland Harbour Bridge and Waitemata Harbour at Dusk, New Zealand Photographic Print
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Other NZ Regional Holidays

Leave it to the Kiwi's to create a different public holiday to celebrate the establishment of each of its major regions.

NZ Regional Anniversary days are public and banking holidays only for people who live in that particular region. It can get quite confusing figuring out who has which Monday off of work. We use a banker from another region, so the bank is closed on Wellington Anniversary even though we are in Auckland region. Here are the dates for the next two anniversaries in each region.

Region

Anniversary Dates


Southland

18 Jan 2010; 17 Jan 2011


Wellington

25 Jan 2010; 24 Jan 2011


Auckland

1 Feb 2010; 31 Jan 2011


Nelson

1 Feb 2010; 31 Jan 2011


Taranaki

8 Mar 2010; 14 Mar 2011


Otago

22 Mar 2010; 21 Mar 2011


South Canterbury

28 Sept 2009; 27 Sept 2010


Hawkes Bay

23 Oct 2009; 22 Oct 2010


Marlborough

2 Nov 2009; 1 Nov 2010


Canterbury

13 Nov 2009; 12 Nov 2010


Westland

30 Nov 2009; 29 Nov 2010


Chatham Islands

30 Nov 2009; 30 Nov 2010



Is it Really Only in New Zealand?

A frequent expression I hear is "Only in New Zealand." So the question I have for you, is whether this is true. Does your region celebrate its Anniversary with a public holiday? This is referring to regional holidays, not national holidays, which are celebrated in most countries.

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Learning to Sail in New Zealand

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You never know what treasures you will find on eBay. The computer is out searching for "sailing". Here is what it found today. Check back often it changes frequently.
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  • TheWhistler May 28, 2011 @ 9:50 am | delete
    Yes we have civic holidays. Same day different names across the country.
  • poddys May 28, 2011 @ 8:16 am | delete
    I remember watching a group come ashore from a sailing boat in costume in Auckland, must have been January 1988, so that would have been the Anniversary celebration. Think it was Half Moon Bay or thereabouts. It's great to celebrate events like this. I came, I saw, I left a blessing behind me.
  • Serenia Jan 13, 2011 @ 3:48 pm | delete
    Great lens. *sniff* Now you are making me homesick!! LOL
    I may not miss NZ that much, but I do miss Auckland. I lived there for 14 years.
  • OhMe Oct 8, 2009 @ 9:30 pm | delete
    I really enjoyed reading about The Auckland Regatta and seeing these great photos. Blessed.
  • ChineseKitesforKids Jul 5, 2009 @ 10:02 pm | delete
    Exquisite! Thanks for sharing. **5**
  • ChineseKitesforKids Jul 5, 2009 @ 10:02 pm | delete
    Exquisite! Thanks for sharing. **5**
  • Heather426 Jul 3, 2009 @ 7:05 pm | delete
    This looks really fun!
  • bdkz Jul 3, 2009 @ 10:47 am | delete
    What a neat event!
  • mukunda22 Jul 1, 2009 @ 10:47 pm | delete
    Love the pics and the balance of this lens!!

    Thank you!!
  • BevsPaper Jul 1, 2009 @ 9:07 pm | delete
    Beautifully done!
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