Tidelines: Anniversary oldies

Next year's New Zealand Herald Auckland Anniversary Regatta will see the start of a week-long demonstration of transtasman yachting history in action. The first race of the New Zealand-Australia 18-footer series will be a feature of the regatta. In Sydney in January, the Kiwi fleet of M-Class 18s beat a team of Aussies sailing replica skiffs. They were racing for the J.J. Giltinan Trophy, which was first contested on Sydney Harbour in 1938. The Sydney Flying Squadron and the Historic Skiff Association will be back trying to regain the trophy against our top Emmys.

Land legs preferred

A United States survey of recreation showed a slight decline in powerboating last year - it dropped from 13th place to 14th, with 22.6 million participants. Sailing is not among the leading recreations, but showed an increase of 10 per cent to 2.5 million. Most popular was walking, with 71.2 million participants.

Yachts from China

The Raffles Shipyard at Yantai, on China's Shandong Peninsula, has added leisure craft and yachts to its traditional shipbuilding. The yard has five yachts under construction, including an 88m megayacht.

WaterWatch

There's full-on winter racing on the Waitemata this weekend. Activity includes:

Saturday: Winter series continues (RNZYS).

Sunday: Canterbury two-handed series starts, harbour course (RAYC); Short-handed winter series (RYC); Howick winter series (HSC); Winter series (BBYC); Winter series (MYMBC); Winter race 2, 11.00 start (GHYCC).

* Clubs and organisations planning events on or in the Waitemata or Manukau harbours should register with the Auckland Regional Council Enviroline on 080080 60 40.