One of New Zealand's most popular on-water events will this year welcome two dedicated owner rallies, drawing Beneteau and Lagoon boat owners from around the country for a long weekend of sailing and socialising on Auckland's waters.
36 Degrees Brokers has opened the invitation to both communities, threading the rallies through the programme of the PIC Harbour Classic. Running from Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March, the event centres on Jellicoe Harbour, where more than 50 boats are already registered and numbers across both the Beneteau monohull and Lagoon catamaran fleets continue to grow. The aim is uncomplicated: bring owners together, put them on the water, and let the shared experience build from there.
Friday evening sets the tone. Boats berth together at Jellicoe Harbour, giving owners arriving from Auckland and further afield an immediate point of connection. At 7pm all crews attend the official Harbour Classic briefing, before heading to the Welcome Party at Wynyard Pavilion at 7:30pm, where final sailing instructions and course details for Saturday are distributed.
Both the Beneteau Owners Rally and the Lagoon Owners Rally run inside the Harbour Classic programme, and Saturday is structured to give participants genuine choice about how they spend it. Rally boats will depart Jellicoe Harbour at around 10:00am, making their way to the Harbour Classic start line off North Head for racing scheduled to begin at 12pm.
After that, each crew decides its own path. Beneteau yachts electing to race will compete within the monohull divisions, while Lagoon catamarans can enter the multihull and catamaran division. For those who prefer a more relaxed afternoon, the option is there to peel away from the fleet and cruise across to Motuihe Island, one of the Hauraki Gulf's most-loved anchorages, and spend the afternoon at their own pace.
When racing wraps up, both fleets reconvene at Motuihe Island, where 36 Degrees will host a casual beach gathering for owners and crews. Food, drinks, and snacks will be on hand, giving everyone the chance to swap stories from the day and put faces to names they may only know from owners' forums and marina conversations.
From Motuihe, each crew makes its own call. Boats can head back to Jellicoe Harbour in time for the official Harbour Classic prizegiving at 5:30pm, or stay anchored and let the afternoon run on a little longer.
Sitting inside an event that already draws a substantial fleet, the two rallies are designed to strengthen the sense of community among New Zealand's Beneteau and Lagoon sailors. Racing and cruising run in parallel throughout, with a social thread woven through every part of the weekend, whether boats are at anchor, on the start line, or tied up at the marina.
Owners keen to take part are encouraged to register early, allowing organisers to confirm berthing allocations, catering numbers, and Harbour Classic entries ahead of time.
36 Degree Brokers
Beneteau Owner's Rally
36 Degree Brokers
Lagoon Owner's Rally
