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This year's Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, January 26 will again feature the wonderful spectacle of the city's tugboats performing for the crowds afloat on the Waitemata Harbour and lining the neighbouring shoreline.
This will be the third time these workhorses have raced in the annual regatta and a fleet of between 30 and 40 tugs and workboats are expected to take part in this year's event.
Among the entries will be the Ports of Auckland's "terrible twins", Waipapa and Waka Kume, the water-spraying Tamaki, the reigning champion Daldy and its famous namesake, the vintage steam tug William C Daldy.
The William C Daldy, which was named after the first chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, first served the port in 1935. It is perhaps most famous for helping to avert disaster during the construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
When the main centre section of the bridge was being floated into place, the wind suddenly increased to over 40 knots. This almost proved too much for the barge and accompanying boats which were manoeuvring the 1200 tonne, 177m steel structure into place.
Luckily the William C Daldy came to the rescue, providing a non-stop, 36-hour pull against the wind. This mammoth effort, which required round-the-clock stoking and consumed more than 40 tonnes of coal, helped hold the massive bridge section in place until the wind subsided.
The William C Daldy and her more modern counterparts will begin their part in the day's activities off North Head at 10am. They will then race out of the harbour to round Narrow Neck buoy before sprinting to the finish off Devonport's Torpedo Bay.
They should be clearly visible from both North Head and the southern East Coast Bay beaches.
Following the race, the fleet will parade, in the order they finish, up the harbour and past Princes Wharf. The Ports of Auckland tugs will then perform what is one of the most popular parts of the regatta for both water-borne and shore-bound spectators: "dancing" and "water-fighting" in a spectacular display.
Of course, while the tugs are sure to draw a lot of the attention, they are just a small part of what is generally considered one of the world's biggest one-day regattas - and New Zealand's oldest sporting event.
The Auckland Anniversary Regatta was first held 169 years ago, in 1840, as part of Auckland's birthday celebrations. Since then, it has attracted a huge armada of each era's best racing and pleasure boats.
Exclusively a sailing regatta in the early years, it soon embraced the new steam-powered launches and today includes vintage and classic vessels, tall ships, a huge fleet of sailing dinghies, sailboards, radio-controlled boats, work boats and even the navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana, which acts as the regatta's flagship.
Many of the yachts that starred in previous Auckland Anniversary Day Regattas will be back again this year. Worth looking out for are the newly restored Jessie Logan, one of the originals from the revered Logan Brothers shipyard in the 19th century; the John Spencer-designed flyer Ragtime (renamed Infidel and fresh from success in the Sydney-Hobart); the famous and "unbeatable" Ranger; Waitangi, Thelma, Rainbow, Fidelis and Rawene. Many of these classic vessels will also be lit up at their Viaduct moorings from sundown on the night before the regatta.
The regatta fleet leaves Viaduct Harbour in a parade of sail at 9am. It then makes its way to the start line off Orakei Wharf. The best vantage points for those on shore are at North Head (great for a close-up view of the tugboat race), Bastion Point, Tamaki Drive, East Coast Bays, Orakei Wharf and Viaduct Harbour. There is also a full programme of activities, provided by Auckland City Council, at the Viaduct over the long weekend.
WIN A RIDE ON A WORKHORSE
Ports of Auckland is offering a ride aboard one of its three racing tugboats as an anniversary gift to Aucklanders.
One winner and a friend will enjoy a ride on reigning champion Daldy when it competes in this year's Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Regatta's Tugboat Race.
In addition to the thrill of zooming across the finish line, the winner will also have the chance to tour and explore the three-storey workhorse, learning more about the Daldy and its 34-year history.
To enter the draw, send the keyword "Daldy" with your name, address and contact phone number to tugboat@poal.co.nz, or post your entry to Tugboat Race prize draw, c/o Ports of Auckland, PO Box 1281, Auckland.
All entries must be received by 9am on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. More information and terms and conditions are on the Ports of Auckland website - www.poal.co.nz.
Ports of Auckland is also running free tours of the Port during Auckland Anniversary Weekend. The tours will run on Saturday and Sunday, January 24 and 25 at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm, departing by ferry from Pier 4 on Quay Street.
The 40-minute tours, which include a detailed commentary about the port, are suitable for all ages but bookings are essential. These can be made online at www.poal.co.nz or by calling 0800 AK PORT.
Contact Marine editor Mike Rose on (09) 483 8284, 021 735 015 or email: mrpr@xtra.co.nz.
