Anniversary Regatta is back again

It began as an event for the people - those who had boats as well as the residents of the city who watched the action on the water from vantage points around the harbour.

The New Zealand Herald Auckland Anniversary Regatta on January 30 is the 166th and one of the aims is to create more of the spectator involvement of old.

The Viaduct Harbour will be the venue for a huge range of entertainment with an aquatic bent. On the water a new event will recreate some of the spectator interest that flagged over recent years as much of the regatta's action took place out of sight of shorebound spectators.

The team at Royal Akarana Yacht Club - whose motto is: "Life is too short to sail slow" - will race some of the quickest boats on the water on a course that gets up close to the main vantage points around the inner harbour.

It will take the fleet along the Tamaki Drive foreshore, down to the Viaduct and across to Bayswater then to North Head and over to the Orakei Wharf.

Twice.

The organising team, led by Matt Woodley (F18) and Aaron McIntosh and Bruce Kendall (Tornado) with Akarana's Penny Grayson, have done the spadework and the result is the Citizen Watches Anniversary Day Harbour Blast.

Doing the blasting will be Tornados, F18 and A-class, 12ft and 18ft skiffs, Hobie 16s, Flying Fifteens.

And showing the flag for an earlier generation, the M-Class types.

The exercise grew from a suggestion by Auckland Yacht & Boating Association secretary Sue Jenness, who remembered an ageing relative talking about the days bookies mingled with hordes of spectators along Tamaki Drive to take bets as the 18ft skiffs and Emmies of the time raced close inshore.

Woodley and McIntosh put the idea to Citizen Watches chief Warwick Browne, and he came up with a prize package that will reward the quickest boat to complete the course, and a handicap system that will give all participants a chance of a prize.

From 1979 to 1991 Citizen sponsored the first match-racing in this part of the world, using privately owned Stewart 34s. Top America's Cup skippers were invited to compete: Ted Turner, Ted Hood, Harold Cudmore and Bruno Trouble among them.

Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Graeme Woodroofe and Rod Davis were four of the top locals who quickly proved they could handle one-on-one competition.

"It was great racing," Browne recalls, and eventually it led to the creation of the RNZYS fleet of MRX match-racers.

We were also the first to bring this form of yachting to television, thanks largely to Doc Williams, then head of sport at South Pacific TV.

"Citizen also sponsored offshore powerboats and the national jetboat marathon in which top boats and drivers from around the world competed.

"I guess it was a logical progression to get more involved with the marine industry by organising the IMTEC boat shows at Princes Wharf with Ken Lusty."

Browne still has that association, as chairman of the Auckland International Boat Show.

This on-the-water exhibition at the Viaduct Harbour grew from the amalgamation of the IMTEC mainly marine equipment show with the Marine Industry Association's event that is now a major international marine exhibition.

"The enthusiasm of Woodley, McIntosh and Royal Akarana convinced me it would be great to help give the Anniversary Regatta a new dimension," says Browne.

"The Citizen Blast will enable the people of the City of Sails - and our Anniversary Weekend visitors and tourists - to get up close and personal with the action.

More on www.rayc.org.nz (link provided below).