Anniversary celebrations out south and west

Bruce Ballard has been sailing with the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club for almost 70 years, starting as a bailer boy for his uncle at the age of 10.

And on Anniversary Day he'll be hard at work, probably in the starter's box, to help make a success of the club's first year of involvement in the Auckland Anniversary New Zealand Herald Regatta.

He has fond memories of hurrying home from school to sail from Onehunga to Cornwallis with his older brother, Tony, and as an adult, invested many hours in teaching youngsters to sail.

Mr Ballard approves wholeheartedly of taking the regatta from a one-day event on the Waitemata Harbour to an action-packed weekend full of events throughout the Auckland region - the aim of John Smart, chair of the regatta's organising committee.

"It's not just Auckland City's birthday," Mr Smart says, "it's for the whole Auckland region."

Last year North Shore City was involved in the regatta for the first time, and this year John Smart is proud that Manukau City and Waitakere City are joining the party.

He's confident it will be a great success and continue to grow each year.

"We know the demand is there, because we've always had people coming from all four cities to take part in the regatta on land and water," he says.

Auckland's second oldest yacht club, the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club, on Kiwi Esplanade in Mangere Bridge, will be the scene for the combined efforts of all five Manukau-based yacht clubs.

Organiser David Hilliar says many loyal Manukau sailors would never consider crossing the isthmus to sail on the Waitemata, and a local event presents good opportunities for sailors and landlubbers alike.

"A real bonus for our spectators is that the Manukau is relatively enclosed," he says, "so the sailing happens closer to shore and more people can get much better viewing of all the action."

Out west, events will centre around the Taikata Sailing Club at the end of Te Atatu Peninsula.

Sailing events on the Manukau, the Waitemata, and out of Taikata Sailing Club will encompass a wide range of vessels.

As Raewyn Bennett, one of the organisers, says, "If it sails, we've got a race for it."

As well as expanding geographically, the anniversary festivities are broadening in scope to include a multi-sport event, the itouch Point-to-Point Challenge.

This kayaking, orienteering, walking and mountain biking event starts at Pt Chevalier and proceeds south, then east, to finish at Pt England, 50km away.

The extended schedule of events means increased viewing opportunities, which anyone who's ever missed out on a cherished prime viewing spot for events on the Waitemata Harbour will appreciate.

If maritime events aren't your thing, you can catch local and international musicians and dancers at the weekend-long Auckland Folk Festival at the Kumeu Showgrounds.

Also out west on Anniversary Day are the Titirangi arts and crafts festival in the township, and the Piha arts festival on the beach.

"A lot of Aucklanders are in the habit of going away at Anniversary Weekend," says Mr Smart. "We want to create a new tradition of staying in town knowing you'll have all these marvellous events to enjoy for Auckland's birthday each year."