Sers' blog: Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta & Tugboat Race 2016. Part II ... 20 PHOTOS

Original article: Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta & Tugboat Race 2016. Part II ... 20 PHOTOS

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta & Tugboat Race 2016. Part II

20 PHOTOS

Monday 1 February 2016, Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta & Tug Race – the final day.

This is the world’s largest one day regatta.

Auckland's 176th birthday celebrate with activities and entertainment for all ages: Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, selection of historic photographic displays, indoor and outdoor installations, markets, food and entertainment.

Different water sports and sailing clubs worked hard for the Regatta 2016. This is one of the biggest one day regatta in the world! And Auckland celebrates its’ birthday which already beyond its 176th year.

It features not only yachts of all shapes and sizes but also tugboats, modern water sports such as Stand Up Paddleboarding, Dragon Boating, and Waka Ama.

Action includes a spectacular tug boat race within the Waitemata Harbour, the fleet of stately classics showcasing what they do best, remote control sailing, dinghies, waka ama, dragon boating and more. You join in the action from a picnic spot, wharf or waterfront cafe and feel a part of it.

And what is the new feature of Auckland Anniversary Weekend 2016?

Well - the unique Maori history, heritage and contemporary culture of Tamaki Makaurau on the centre stage in this new festival on Auckland’s waterfront, Auckland Anniversary Weekend 2016.

It includes performances by contemporary Maori artists, inter-tribal waka races, traditional and modern kapa haka, workshops and talks, Maori crafts and kai, storytelling focusing on traditional navigation, and a ‘Koro Lounge’, where pakeke (older visitors) can sit down, relax and have a cup of tea.

Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival is one of a host of exciting events happening on Auckland’s waterfront and harbour over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, including the ASB Auckland Seafood Festival; Ports of Auckland SeePort open weekend; St Jerome’s Laneway Festival; Silo Cinema and Silo Sessions; Auckland International Buskers Festival; Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta; HMNZS Wellington Open Day and Sunset Navy Concert; and the At The Beach - 100 Years of Summer Fashion exhibition, family activities and heritage vessels sailings in and around the NZ Maritime Museum.

Interesting fact: Auckland has more 100-year old yachts sailing than anywhere else in the world. And some of them we will see tomorrow.

Some of the best spots are:

Princes Wharf
Viaduct
North Head
East Coast Bays
Tamaki Drive
Orakei Wharf

8.30am: Tugboat Parade Tugboats young and old will gather at the entrance to the Viaduct Harbour and parade up to their start line off North Head.
10.00am: Tugboat Race off North Head Watch this amazing display of maneuverability and speed as these wonderful craft roar up the channel, round Narrow Neck Buoy and return to finish off Devonport Wharf – best vantage points are North Head, East Coast Bays beaches, Devonport and Devonport Wharf.
11.30am Firefighting display off the Viaduct followed by a Parade through the Viaduct.
11.00am: First Start off Princes Wharf

Races start off Princes Wharf, Downtown Auckland at 5 minute intervals from 11.00am.
• 11.35 & 11.45am: Classic division starts
• 11.55am: Tall Ships and Waka start
• 12.00noon: Harbour Blast starts off Orakei Wharf
• There will also be aerial displays by the War Birds and the Red Checkers

The fastest boats on the water ‘blast’ off in a vision of colour and speed as they head off around the harbour.

13:00 Maritime Museum - Pirates on the Harbour
14:15 Maritime Museum - Pirates on the Harbour

Experience the Anniversary Day Regatta from onboard one of our heritage vessels. Here is the timetable of the Regatta Highlights that you'll be able to experience:

9.30am - 4pm: Dragon Board Racing in the Viaduct Harbour
10am - 10.45am: Tugboat Race
10.45am - 11.15am: Tugboat Display
11.35am - 12.10pm: Races start
12.15pm - 5pm: Fleets expected at Princes Wharf

Vessel Time Departing From
Ted Ashby 1pm - 2pm Cook's Wharf
Ted Ashby 2.15pm - 3.15pm Cook's Wharf

Breeze 10am - 12.30pm NZ Maritime Museum
Breeze 1.30pm - 4pm NZ Maritime Museum

See below photos from the day one and two of Auckland Anniversary Day. And visit SoftFern.com for the photos and videos from Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta 2016.

The Royal New Zealand Navy show in their RHIB boats. A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, (RHIB) or rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy. The inflatable collar allows the vessel to maintain buoyancy if a large quantity of water is shipped aboard due to bad sea conditions.

Maori boat on display – as part of Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival.

Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta: activities, entertainment, food and drinks and much more…

HMNZS Wellington (P-55) is a Protector class off-shore patrol vessel in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The unique Maori history, heritage and contemporary culture of Tamaki Makaurau on the centre stage.

Different water sports and flying on helicopter available at Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta.

Cruise liner at Queens’s wharf.

William C Daldy is a historic steam engine tugboat. Named after William Crush Daldy, an Auckland politician, she was built in 1935 and is still kept up as an active vessel by an enthusiast preservation society which charters her out for functions and cruises.