Please select your home edition
Edition
P&B

2025 Auckland Anniversary Regatta event details and schedule

by Auckland Anniversary Regatta 26 Jan 22:16 GMT
Waitangi - Auckland Anniversary Regatta - January 31, 2022 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta: everything you need to know


The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta takes place on Monday 27 January, 2025. At 185 years old, its New Zealands oldest sporting event, even pre-dating the Americas Cup by 11 years. This year the regatta also marks the opening event of the six-week long Moana Auckland festival.


The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta celebrates the founding of the City of Sails, and attracts a huge fleet of vessels every year, including restored classic yachts, modern racing keelboats, sailing dinghies and tugboats, along with waka ama, dragon boats and radio-controlled yachts.


Its a great day out for mariners and thousands of spectators who can see the maritime history of our city in action, and the future of the sport of sailing, all together on the shimmering waters of the Waitemata.


For spectators, its a glorious spectacle featuring the vintage superstars of the past and the high-tech heralds of the future. For seafarers, its a chance to be part of history in the making - racing for over $15,000 worth of prizes and the ultimate honour of having your name engraved on one of the regattas historic trophy collection. The collection of over 60 trophies - many of which date back to the 1800s, and some of which are solid silver - is on permanent display at the New Zealand Maritime Museum, ensuring winners will be enshrined in nautical history forever.

Whats happening, where and when

Tugboat, Classic Launch and Classic Yacht Races - Westhaven

Tugboats may not be designed to race, but when they do, they are a spectacular sight. An armada of tugs will start off the Westhaven breakwater near the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, racing down to Orakei and back again, before they put on an impressive display. They will be followed by the Classic Launch Race, and then the Classic and Modern Keelboat Races.


Auckland is said to has the largest fleet of vintage yachts still sailing, anywhere in the world. Be at Westhaven from midday to watch the classic yachts carry out their exciting manoeuvres as they line up for their start, followed by the modern keelboat divisions at five minute intervals.

Dragon Boat Races - Viaduct Harbour

Radio Controlled Yacht Races - Westhaven Marina & St Marys Bay

Centreboard and Foiling Classes - Venues across Auckland

The centreboard classes are the grass roots favourites of New Zealand sailing, and hundreds of dinghy and board sailors will take to the water to compete as part of the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. Racing takes place at seven venues around Auckland, and includes the 29er, 420 and 470 Association Auckland Championships at Kohimarama, and the Optimist and Starling Auckland Championships at Murrays Bay.

Moana Auckland: New Zealands Ocean Festival


This years regatta is particularly special because it will be the opening event of the Moana Auckland festival. Moana Auckland, New Zealands Ocean Festival, brings together on and off-water events from 27 January to 9 March 2025. Presented by Ttaki Auckland Unlimited, highlights include the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, Z World Manu Champs, Auckland Boat Show, PIC Harbour Classic, waterfront concerts, and family-friendly activities - celebrating Aucklands maritime spirit. For more information visit www.aucklandnz.com/moana

About the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is made possible with the generous support of Ttaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council, Hawaiian Airlines, Lawsons Dry Hills Wines, Rothbury Insurance Brokers, Ellerslie Jewellers, Spirit of Adventure Trust, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Trillian Trust, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

More information about watching and entering the regatta, including a full Schedule of Events and Venue Map, can be found at www.regatta.org.nz.

2025 Regatta Sponsors

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta gratefully acknowledge the support of our family of sponsors who keep NZs oldest sporting event running for everyone to enjoy.

Related Articles

Lightning 368 Southern Championship at Up River
Training day and Noble Marine Travellers' Trophy event Saturday for the training day turned out to be the perfect day for sailing with sunshine and a nice 10 mph breeze all day long. Sunday was a different story with the sun arriving, but the wind must have still been hungover from the party. Posted today at 8:45 am
Entry open for trio of Brisbane Finn events
For three weeks in February 2026 the Finn world will descend on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Entry has opened for the main Finn events in 2026. For three weeks in February 2026 the Finn world will descend on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, in Brisbane, Australia, for three back-to-back major regattas. Posted today at 8:02 am
XR 41 ready for racing debut at MaiOR
All eyes on Kiel-Schilksee as the offshore racing season starts in northern Europe Every spring, the sailing world turns its eyes to Kiel-Schilksee, where the Mai Offshore Regatta (MaiOR) launches the offshore racing season in northern Europe. Posted today at 7:20 am
Create a standout Funding the Future application
The initiative offers a total prize pot of £10,000 for clubs Yacht charter company Sunsail announced the return of its Funding the Future initiative earlier this year, offering a total prize pot of £10,000. Posted today at 7:00 am
60th Anniversary Congressional Day 1
Strong start for defending champion USA's Chris Poole, defending champion of the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup leads the first day of the 60th Anniversary event with six straight wins in the opening round-robin stage. Posted today at 5:18 am
McIntyre Mini Globe Race fleet battles Pacific
In historic 4,300-mile test of endurance Solo Sailors Face Doldrums, Equipment Failures and Avian Invaders in Unprecedented Small Boat Challenge - week five of leg 2 Posted on 30 Apr
Inaugural CIC Med Channel Race Day 4
Take-off for some, patience for others! On this fourth day of racing, the 1st edition of the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE has a totally different look to the previous day. At the front of the fleet, the two battling scows CREDIT MUTUEL (n°158) and CENTRAKOR (n°183) made an express take-off. Posted on 30 Apr
Don't Risk Your Keys on the Water!
Keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box Don't risk taking your keys on the water... keep them safe and dry in a Vaikobi Car Key Lock Box. Posted on 30 Apr
Melges 24s at Trogir Preview
Second event of the 2025 European Sailing Series set to be pivotal This weekend, May 1-4, the historic coastal town of Trogir in Croatia will host the second event of the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Posted on 30 Apr
2000 class Millennium Series at Bough Beech
Oh to be young, light and talented! Round 2 of the West Country Boat Repairs 2000 Millennium Series at Bough Beech was a real tour de force for the club, race team and class. Once again the racing demonstrated what a fun family boat the 2000 is. Posted on 30 Apr