Tide lines: Show partnership

The Boating Industries Association and the National Fieldays Society are to present a national Waikato Boat Show at Mystery Creek. The show, which will incorporate the marine exhibition previously held at the Claudelands Showgrounds, will be held in August. BIA representatives are Mark Street, chairman of the association's boat show committee, dealers' group chairman Garry Dutton and BIA executive director Peter Busfield.

Megayacht race

More than 1000 invitations have been sent to the owners of power yachts over 30.5m (100ft) for the Megayacht Challenge, to be raced off Newport, Rhode Island, from August 22 to 25. The fleet will be limited to 30 starters and entry fee is $US25,000 ($59,300) for each starter accepted.

Water-watch

It is a huge weekend on the Waitemata. As well as serious sailing, hundreds of people are expected to attend the Islington Bay Ball on Rangitoto Island today. The Devonport, Ponsonby, Akarana, Richmond, Weiti, Gulf Harbour and Waiheke sailing clubs combine for an event that includes music and food, plus water taxis. Other events:

Saturday: Auckland girls' championships at Kohimarama and boys' championships at Murrays Bay; Panmure to Hobsonville race (PYBC); Pub to club race (VCC); Printing Express series (PCC); Short-handed male/female race to Westhaven (Weiti); Northern offshore power boat series, 2 pm start off Maraetai Sailing Club.

Saturday and Sunday: Youth international match-racing series concludes off Westhaven (RNZYS); women's national keelboat championships conclude (RAYC).

Sunday: Sir Peter Blake Memorial round-North Island race, 2 pm start off Devonport. The 18 entrants are expected to include Maverick II, Hydroflow and Graham Dalton's new Around Alone Open 60 Hexagon, which will have its first race. The fleet will also include Chris Sayers' new, as yet unnamed, mini-transatlantic race yacht; M-Class and ffrl15 (RAYC); Cruising race (BBYC); His and Hers race (RYC).

* Clubs or organisations planning events on or in the water of the Waitemata and Manukau harbours should register with the Auckland Regional Council's Enviroline on 0800 80 60 40.