Monday 1 February 2010

Bay of Islands Sailing Week: What a Regatta!


Wired. Image copyright Cathy Vercoe LuvMyBoat.com

by Lesley Haslar

A wide range of racing yachts, big, small, fast, slow, intense racers, casual racers, that’s what the Bay Regatta is all about – and it works. Lots of photos are on the Bay Regatta and LuvMyBoat websites, professional and amateur shots on the Bay site to make you smile and/or bring back a ‘moment in time’. The Romeyn Woodcraft trophies are prizes to treasure, worth the fierce on-water competition. After-race social time in the North Sails Tent was the place to vent “would have-should have” - at the same time taking pride in those personal shrewd maneuvers.

87 was the final count of boats racing, at a guess between 800 and 1000 people - a combination of crews, sponsors, volunteers, supporters, family and friends. Mother Nature again came up with the goods for us, even bringing long awaited precious rain to the Far North at night; Wednesday night it literally thundered down; a few intense short showers Thursday morning – but ‘gone by lunchtime’ with fast racing in brisk 20-25 knot winds.

No protests went to court but 720 turns were seen, evidence that good on-the-water conduct is the name of the game. Doesn’t this put Bay of Islands Sailing Week at the top of “friendliest Regattas?”

Total web page visits 90,718 – unique visitors 5,587 – total hits 623,919 – NZ Hits 403,944 – Aussie Ozie hits 74,874 – American hits 63,538. More since then of course and all kinds of other stuff from Andrew Turner, our Website Manager; these are the easy to understand stats, showing quality growth by Bay of Islands Sailing Week.


G3 once again showed her speed at the Bay of Islands Regatta. Image copyright Cathy Vercoe LuvMyBoat.com

WINNERS of four Major SPOT Prizes are:

SCREWLOOSE (Opua) Martin Clark Skipper - Round-trip Air on Air Calin with two nights accommodation at Le Parc Hotel AND the transfers Airport to hotel. Thank you Air Calin, GLP Hotels, Destination New Caledonia

TIMBERWOLF (Auckland) Tim Willets Skipper – three night charter in the Bay of Islands aboard the fabulous Cotton Blossom Charters. Thank you Doug & Vonnie France.

#1 of 2 prizes from Great Escape aboard a Nolex 25 - ZAMBRA (Mangonui) Jake Jacobsen Skipper – exciting two day charter from Great Escape on a Nolex 25

#2 of 2 prizes from Great Escape, a fun two day charter- ROYALE (Waimate North) Skipper Roy Goodwin. Thank you Terry and Cindy Dunn.

Waikokopu Café again met the occasion with yummy inexpensive food, both in the tent and at the Roberton Island Beach Party. They have catered for us year after year, and KNOW the easy tasty foods enjoyed by yachties. Mt Gay Rum, Heineken and White Cliff wines were popular as the prime thirst quenchers, pretty important at a regatta...


Start of the A Division at Bay of Islands Sailing Regatta. Credit Cathy Vercoe LuvMyBoat.com

Roger McMillan, editor of the Australian Sailing magazine came over to NZ to cover the Bay Regatta. Thank you Roger. Newspapers and other media who information to the public are sincerely thanked. We have a nation of boat enthusiasts who want to follow the Bay Regatta; I can vouch for this with sooo many messages of thanks and support received from all over the country.

Bay of Islands Sailing Week

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