Old friends and foes will return to the waters of the picturesque Bay of Islands, ready to tackle newcomers in the region's Sailing Week. Visiting crews from around New Zealand and Australia will join the strong Northland contingent, providing the potential for some thrilling racing during the eighth annual Bay ofIslands Sailing Week.
"Limit is a 65 footer from Australia. She had to pull out of the Sydney-Hobart race but she's here ready to race in the big boat division," race organiser and media liaison officer Lesley Haslar said. The professional boat crew from across the ditch will not be the only Aussies racing in what is fast becoming NZ's second biggest regatta, after the Coastal Classic. Sailing Week chairman Ray Haslar has been busy organising the three-day regatta, so he decided not to race his boat Jive Talkin' on Wednesday when racing begins. Instead, he made it available for a team of Aussie yachties. The crew of his friends will be skippered by Richard Hudson from Sydney. Another first for the regatta is Simon Hull's brand new 60-foot Team G trimaran, which should take line honours in its division, Haslar said. Haslar said the number of entries had been pleasing. "We have reached our target of 80 boats - and we will get more at registration [tomorrow], we always do. We are delighted with that number. "The majority of the yachts are from Auckland but there are some from Nelson and Wellington, and we have one Whangarei boat Bare Essentials entered at the moment."
Ten divisions will contest the regatta, and spectators can expect plenty of action across the classes, providing Mother Nature plays along and blows an ideal 15 knot seabreeze on the Bay of Islands. "Each division will be exciting to watch - everyone is so determined to win, and the small boats can be just as competitive as the biggies," Haslar said.
Around 700 people converge on the Bay of Islands for the event bringing in a significant income for the townships of Paihia, Opua, Russell and Kerikeri, Haslar said.
"It's such a great thing for the region. We are really excited. It has been a fulltime job for the volunteers who have organised the event."
Registration is tomorrow, while racing gets under way on Wednesday morning. The best vantage spots to view the boats is from Waitangi or Russell.
