Waikawa's New Year regatta ready to welcome in 2022
by David Hancock 13 Oct 2021 04:16 BST
13 October 2021
A tight race - Waikawa New Year Regatta 2021 © Karmyn Ingram
Waikawa Boating Club’s annual New Year Regatta is scheduled and the Notice of Race is being distributed to sailors all over New Zealand. The open invitation will draw the biggest fleet and sailor participation in the Marlborough calendar for the two-day regatta over the weekend of 8-9 January 2022.
The New Year Regatta is considered the foundation stone for the club with the event dating back to 1948. The club’s book on its history describes the first event as a few keen boaties who took a loud speaker around Picton Harbour announcing the event, offering free rides for kids and with the very attractive offer of hot water for sale on the foreshore for sixpence a fill.
There won’t be any hot water for sale this time around, but Marlborough based Giesen Wines Limited returns as the major sponsor of the regatta in 2022. The multi-faceted partnership works well for the club and competitors with Giesen wines and beers featuring in the club bar and in the prize pool.
The 2022 Giesen New Year Regatta is extending the invitation to specifically include trailer yachts. This type of boat has been smaller in number over the years and it’s an excellent category to target for the event to grow.
The summer holidays timing of the event works for families who have positioned their yacht in the Picton area and can enjoy a weekend of racing before spending some more relaxing time in the region and hundreds of bays throughout the Marlborough Sounds.
Sailing travel agent, Island Cruising NZ is organizing a voyage down from the far north and they’ll be arriving in time for the regatta with some boats choosing to race.
The program begins on the Friday evening with an invitational race and then the regatta starts on Saturday with five divisions in a mix of round the cans and long harbour racing.
Information on registering for the event can be found on the Waikawa Boating Club events webpage waikawaboatingclub.co.nz/new-year-regatta