Organisers cut early bird entry fees to stimulate fleet growth while shifting the main race village to a historic local venue.
The official 2027 Notice of Race has dropped for the BOISW 2027 regatta, signalling a fresh look for New Zealand's hallmark summer sailing festival from 24 to 28 January. This 24th event marks a historic transition for the regatta village, moving operations from the Opua Cruising Club to the historic waterside premises of the Opua clubrooms of the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club.
The venue change promises a compact, high-atmosphere onshore base on the main lawn. To match this energy, the organising committee has introduced deep financial discounts for entries received before the summer rush begins, aiming to attract wide participation from both casual cruisers and dedicated sports boat syndicates.
"We have significantly reduced the Early Bird entry fees to encourage as many boats as possible to register early and be part of the fun on and off the water," notes regatta Chair Andrew Kearney. "The committee has worked hard and will continue to deliver an excellent experience to the highest standard."
Flexible options for every boat type
The event caters to the full spectrum of the Kiwi boating community, letting skippers select an on-water format that suits their crew comfort levels. The core structure divides the event into Open Racing and Island Racing disciplines, managing seven separate classes across the bay.
Recreational boat owners can target the Island Racing track, which runs scenic point-to-point courses around the outer islands without the high-stress manoeuvring of short-course racing. This track includes a division for non-spinnaker crews, alongside mixed keelboat divisions. Trailer yachts are specifically integrated, preserving their long-standing place in the culture of the regatta. For pure racing machinery, the Open Racing track is for sports boats and the tightly contested Young 88 fleet retains its own division.
Locked-in dates and entry tracking
The regatta schedule kicks off with a mandatory skipper's briefing on Sunday evening, 24 January, ahead of four consecutive days of live competition. Racing begins on Monday 25 January with up to two expansive bay races utilising a single combined start area for the entire fleet. From Tuesday through Thursday, the Open Racing teams pivot to high-intensity windward-leeward courses, while the Island Racing fleets continue their daily journeys through the channels.
Skippers looking to take advantage of the reduced pricing model must register before 1 November to lock in the $299 early bird rate. Standard entry fees are set at $449 for November and December, while late registration runs at $549 until the ledger closes on 18 January 2027. Line honours and handicap silverware will be contested across all divisions, culminating in the prize-giving on the Swordfish Club lawn on Thursday evening.
Find out more about the 2027 Regatta from the Bay of Islands Sailing Week.
