Late January holds a special place in the New Zealand sailing calendar. Stretching from the top of Northland down to the Waitematā Harbour, the Auckland Anniversary Weekend creates a natural circuit for crews wanting to weave together competitive racing, relaxed cruising, and the kind of genuine Kiwi regatta atmosphere that is hard to find at any other time of year.
The sequence gets under way well before the long weekend itself, with Bay of Islands Sailing Week running from 19 to 23 January. Widely regarded as New Zealand's premier multi-class keelboat regatta, it balances serious competition with a holiday feel. Inshore courses sit alongside island races, and the divisional structure, covering everything from sports boats to Young 88s, means mixed fleets can slot in comfortably and race at their own level.
From Friday 23 January, attention moves south, with two events running in parallel across the water.
Mahurangi Regatta, held from 23 to 25 January, is a fixture for classic boat owners and anyone drawn to the heritage side of New Zealand sailing. Based around Mahurangi Harbour and Scotts Landing, it brings together classic yacht racing, launch parades, waka, and dinghies, backed by strong shoreside hospitality. The Saturday night BBQ is a well-established highlight, and the event carries a spirit that is as much about community and tradition as it is about results on the water.
Running at the same time is Kawau Race Week, a new and deliberately low-key addition to the anniversary weekend calendar. Organised by Ponsonby Cruising Club and running from 23 to 25 January, it offers uncomplicated racing, good social get-togethers, and easy access around Kawau Island. One practical advantage stands out: it wraps up the day before Anniversary Day, giving crews a clear window to reposition without any scramble.
The overlap between Bay of Islands Sailing Week and Kawau Race Week on 23 January is no accident. Boats can drop in for a single day of racing without any obligation to commit to the full programme, making it straightforward to move between events.
All of that builds toward the Waitematā on Monday 26 January and the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, New Zealand's oldest sporting event. The fleet that assembles on Anniversary Day is unlike anything else on the domestic calendar, with classic yachts, tugboats, modern dinghies, and foilers all sharing the same water. Free to spectators and difficult to ignore, it provides a fitting close to what amounts to a full summer circuit for crews willing to pace themselves across the preceding days.
For those who plan ahead, Auckland Anniversary Weekend is not simply a single regatta. It is the kind of extended, multi-stop sailing week that the New Zealand summer was made for.
