Regatta History

The first Auckland Regatta was held on the day the city was founded, 18 September 1840, the day that Captain Hobson's officials raised the flag and 11 years before the first America's Cup contest was sailed in 1851.

That first regatta on the Waitemata Harbour was an impromptu three-race event that took place after representatives of Lieutenant Governor William Hobson rowed ashore from the barque Anna Watson and took formal possession of the site in the name of Queen Victoria.

A report in The New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette of 24 September 1840 said the official party rowed back to the Anna Watson and then: “After partaking of luncheon, a regatta took place between a five-oared gig belonging to the Surveyor-General and a six-oared gig belonging to the Anna Watson, both pulled excellent style by amateurs. This was followed by a match for a purse of five pounds between two whale-boats pulled by sailors, and by another between two large canoes paddled by natives.”

There were two official Regattas, one to commemorate Irish born Hobson's arrival in September and the second to honour St Patrick on March 17th. The date was shifted from September to 29 January. Holding a Regatta was not easy - boats were in such short supply that any vessel arriving in harbour with a long boat was pestered to sell it. 

The Auckland Anniversary Regatta became recognised as the official celebration of the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand. In the early years boats such as the gigs, dinghies, whaleboats and Maori canoes provided the interest. Some of the most exciting Regattas were the events for fishing boats such as the centreboard mullet boats that were converted to cruisers. Compared to the keelers, they were cheaper, easier to moor and quite suitable for holidays.

Looking east from Smales Point showing shipyard (foreground); Queen Street Wharf and ships beyond at the Auckland Annual Regatta January 1864.

Queen Street Wharf, Auckland, viewed from the foot of Hobson Street, showing crowds watching the Auckland Annual Regatta. In the foreground, two vessels are under construction at Henderson and Spraggon's shipyard.

People out rowing and boating on the harbour with Campbells point, (left), and St Georges Bay (background), in the Anniversary Day Regatta.

Looking north across Auckland Harbour from the vicinity of Admiralty House towards Northcote, showing crowds, probably gathered on the occasion of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

Yachts and a steamship on the Waitemata Harbour at the start of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, with Rangitoto and North Head behind.

Snapshots from the 1899 regatta

Many of today's venerable yachts competed in their maiden races on Anniversary Day - a builders showcase was an apt description of the Regattas. Many of the classic yachts are still sailing in the Regatta today.

The Regatta was cancelled due to the war in South Africa - the first time in the event’s history that it did not take place, and the only time a cancellation until 2023, when a State of Emergency in Auckland following the Anniversary Weekend floods compelled organisers to call the event off.

The U.S.S. Co.'s Ovalau acted as flagship of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

Some features of the Auckland Anniversary Day regatta, 29 January 1902, as sketched by Auckland Weekly News artist.

Power craft made their debut in the regatta.

Scows sailing in the Auckland Anniversary Day regatta, 1905.

The Togo, Winner of the Speed Launch Race in the 1906 regatta, going at a speed of 16 knots.

Auckland Anniversary Regatta Rowing Events - some of the boats that took part in the racing, February 2, 1907.

A great aquatic carnival: Scenes at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, on January 29, 1908.

Photo of the start of the first-class yachts' open handicap during Auckland Anniversary Regatta, January 29, 1909.

On the flagship at the 1909 regatta.

Snapshots of competing vessels from the Auckland Weekly News.

The first Anniversary Regatta speed championship was held.

The 1915 regatta was marred by bad weather. Snapshots between the showers from the Auckland Weekly News.

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Handicaps, often a bone of contention, led to the appearance in the 1917 Regatta of the x class, the first single design boat.

A collection of vessels that took part in Auckland's Anniversary Day Regatta on 29 January 1917.

Proving the adaptability of the Regatta was the inclusion in 1919 of a flying race, the first in the Southern Hemisphere involving a seaplane and two flying boats which took off from Kohimarama.

Scenes on the Waitemata Harbour at the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

Record entries and glorious weather make the Anniversary Day Regatta a notable success.

Yachts racing in a stiff north-easterly as more than 300 boats competed in Auckland's Anniversary Regatta programme.

Entries gradually increased until the Auckland Anniversary Regatta grew to be the biggest one-day Regatta in the world.

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Auckland's annual carnival of sail - Waitemata Harbour en fete for the 1941 Anniversary Regatta.

Post-war to the present day was an exciting time in the yachting world with new materials, more yachts, more classes. With New Zealand's expert yachtsmen starting to challenge the world, the Regatta committee decided to introduce races for Olympic and International classes.

An aerial view over Northcote Point, looking out to the Waitemata Harbour and Westhaven Marina, taken on Regatta Day (Auckland Anniversary), 29th January 1947.

The 100th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta was held, 100 years on from the day the Auckland Anniversary Regatta became recognised as the official celebration of the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand, but 110 years after the very first ‘impromtu’ regatta was held in 1840.

HMNZS Bellona lit up for the 100th Auckland Anniversary Regatta in 1950.

People watch the regatta from the shore at Mission Bay.

Yachts being prepared to race in the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta.

The first sailboard made its appearance early in the 1970's when an American became tired of surfing and raised a sail.

Aerial photo of the 1984 regatta

A multiplicity of classes is catered for from slick racing machines which can challenge the world without shame, to tiny radio controlled yachts.

Among the slick racers to honour the Regatta in this decade has been the late Sir Peter Blake's trimaran "Steinlager".

The arrival of the tugboats on the scene, an event which commandeered the attention of the media. The sight of 21 tugboats churning up the Rangitoto Channel to Narrowneck Buoy and racing back to North Head was a sight to behold. The tugboat race was to become a major feature of the Regatta from this year on.

The keelboat startline moved into the downtown city area off Princes Wharf, a move which proved to be a popular one for both spectators and participants.

Modern foiling classes such as the Moths now join in the regatta, side by side with classic vessels that have sailed for 100 years or more.

With increasing vessel activity in the port area, the start line was moved to Westhaven. This area was the venue for the Regatta during the 1940’s and 50’s, and proved popular with the spectators, particularly being able to view the Tugboat Race and the A Class gaff-rigged yachts.

2020 also marked the return of powered launches to the regatta with the introduction of a Classic Launch Race - the first time launches had been included in nearly 100 years.

In a year where event cancellations were commonplace due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was much consideration over whether the regatta could take place. In the end, the event did take place and entries were even higher than the previous year's. The only exceptions being the paddlesport fleets where restrictions on gathering sizes unfortunately prevented the Dragon Boat and Waka Ama fleets from competing.

For only the second time in its 183-year history, the Auckland Anniversary Regatta had to be cancelled due to safety concerns following devastating floods. The Waitematā Harbour was filled with floating debris, with strong winds and further rain forecast, and a state of emergency declared in Auckland, organisers decided it would be too risky to run the regatta.

Heavy winds and high seas prevented much of the classic yacht fleet from taking part, but the regatta still saw huge fleets of hardy dinghy sailors braving the weather across the Waitemata. The Royal Akarana Yacht Club hosted the Optimist and Starling fleets, with a 177 boat fleet making for an impressive sight!

2024 Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. Monday 29 January. Photo: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die