Anniversary Weekend has a new event on the calendar, and it came about in an unlikely way. When whispers began circulating that Bay of Islands Sailing Week might not go ahead, Ponsonby Cruising Club and Kawau Boating Club decided the timing was right to create something of their own. The outcome is Kawau Race Week 2026, scheduled for Friday 23 to Sunday 25 January, a fresh regatta built around competitive sailing and the kind of relaxed, sociable atmosphere that Auckland's boating community does so well.
"The key elements behind the whole thing are good sailing on the water and even better parties on land," said organising team member Moulët, also known as Mark Roberts.
The format is deliberately straightforward. A single race on Friday afternoon lets boats arrive without rushing, Saturday brings two races, and Sunday rounds out the programme with two more. One of those Sunday races forms part of a special two-race regatta designed for classic boats rolling in fresh from their Mahurangi weekend. Monday is left clear, giving crews a leisurely sail home rather than a rushed departure.
Moulët describes the concept as a "start-up, small (cheap) out-of-town regatta." The location is part of the appeal: boats from Auckland, Gulf Harbour, or Sandspit can reach Kawau in a matter of hours, making it feel like a proper getaway without the logistical burden of heading further north. Delivering a yacht to Russell or Opua can consume days rather than hours, and marina fees, fuel costs, and accommodation bills mount quickly. Kawau Race Week is aimed squarely at sailors who love competitive regattas but cannot set aside nine days for Bay Week.
“If the weather turned bad, you could leave your boat on a mooring, hop on the ferry to Sandspit, and be home that night,” he said. “It’s an out-of-town event without the headaches.”
On the water, Race Officers will choose between windward/leeward and passage courses each day depending on wind and tide conditions. One thread runs consistently through the programme: every course will take the fleet past at least one island. The waters around Kawau offer plenty of opportunity to make local geography count tactically, and that is very much the intention.
Divisions will be organised by general handicap and PHRF rating once entries have been received. Classes are anticipated for 50-footers, 40-footers, and strong 30-foot fleets including Extreme, Ellisunk, Carrera3 and Wild Thing. There is already strong interest from the 8.5 fleet, with Hooters, voom! and Attitude among those expressing intent to race. Multihulls will have their own class, and sports boats and a two-handed section will also be included if numbers support them.
Away from the racecourse, the Kawau Boating Club is where the social side of the event takes shape. Happy hours, a live band each evening, and an open, relaxed atmosphere are all part of the plan, with crews encouraged to raft up and wander ashore to mix with other sailors.
"The idea is to get everybody off their boats," Moulët said. "You start with ten people, then twenty, fifty, a hundred — it builds the community."
A dedicated WhatsApp group will help keep everyone connected throughout the weekend, with nightly gatherings building towards the Sunday prize-giving at 5.30 pm.
Title sponsorship has been secured through Evolution Sails, a company with genuine roots in the area. Owner Rodney Keenan lives at Snells Beach, which overlooks the racecourse itself, and he wasted no time getting involved, becoming the first entrant with Another Duchess, the Davidson 59 he co-owns with Evan Davies.
"We're based in Kawau Bay — it's nice to support the local clubs," Keenan said. "This regatta caters for people who've got jobs and can't take nine days off for Bay Week. It's realistic, local and fun."
Evolution Sails' commitment goes well beyond supplying trophies. The company puts around $100,000 per year into New Zealand sailing and has shifted to three-year sponsorship cycles to give events continuity and room to grow. Kawau Race Week will benefit from that model through to 2028.
Entries are open now at pcc.org.nz/kawau. The entry fee is $195, or $65 per day, covering the Sunday classic two-day regatta as well. Keelboats, multihulls, sports boats, classics, and trailer yachts are all eligible to enter.
“Kiwis are hopeless at signing up early,” Moulët laughed. “So we’ll keep it open right to the wire—because the more boats, the more fun everyone has.”
The event carries a broader ambition alongside the racing itself. Organisers want to revive the spirit of shared celebration that once characterised the best Hauraki Gulf weekends, welcoming everyone from serious competitive crews through to family cruisers. Special prizes for production boats are among the ideas being discussed, and there are plans to offer a Sunday-only race for yachts completing the nearby Mahurangi Classics Regatta, letting those fleets join the party without disrupting their series results.
"It's all about community," Moulët said. "People will sell it — not the race committee."
The ingredients are in place: a perfect long weekend slot, genuine sponsorship backing, live music ashore, and a racecourse surrounded by some of the most recognisable scenery in the Hauraki Gulf. For many Auckland sailors, Kawau Race Week 2026 offers a regatta that is competitive without being complicated, affordable without feeling like a compromise, and close enough to home to feel like it truly belongs here.
