Marlborough Sounds Marinas sponsored race 1 of Waikawa Boating Club’s iconic New Year Regatta to kick off 2024, and it was certainly a challenging start, with up to 20 knot North West winds for some of the races. The committee at Waikawa Boating Club put together the following regatta report, and we congratulate the Club and committee on another successful regatta!

Challenging Conditions for New Year Yacht Racing Regatta at Waikawa

The annual Waikawa Boating Club New Year regatta took place in Queen Charlotte Sound on Friday 12th January to Sunday 14th January. With North West Winds 20knots and over for the three days, racing was always going to be a challenge for the 23 boats that entered, and around 120 crew, particularly those on smaller boats.
It was great to have visiting boats and crew from Christchurch, Wellington and Australia.

Friday evening race 1 started around the Allports Island Area, with round the cans race for division one and 2 and a short harbour race towards the Grove Arm and back. The day finished with curry and Prize giving back at the club afterwards.

Races were sponsored by local companies as listed below, we very much appreciate their support.

Race 1 Sponsor Marlborough Sounds Marinas.
Winners Div 1: High Voltage, Glen Robertson, Elliott 1050Winner Div 2: Sequin: Adrienne Crossen, JeanneauWinner Div 3: Indelible: Tom Hutchison. Dehler 41

Saturday Morning Racing started with a good breeze that picked up after lunch to gusts around 30knts.

Race 2: Sponsored By Burnsco, Waikawa
Winner Div 1: High Voltage: Glen Robertson Elliot 1050
Winner Div 2: Portafortuna: Clive Harragan Farr 920
Winner Div 3: Celebrity: Rob Blathwayt Farr 38

Race 3 Sponsored By Burnsco, Waikawa
Winner Div 1: Last Sirrah: Marty Harris, Young 10
Winner Div 2: Sausy Sausage: James Snowden, Warwick Stratus 747
Winer Div 3: Celebrity Rob Blathwayt Farr 38

Race 4 Sponsored By New Zealand King Salmon
Winner Div 1: Flying Machine, Craig Edwards, Young 88
Winner Div 2: Coup Detat2, Clive Ballett, Farr 1020No race for Div 3.

Sunday:
The racing Area moved to around Shakespeare Bay area due to the strong winds forecast further north. This proved to be a great decision with some very exciting sailing downwind with spinnakers. It was great to have our sponsors representative Belinda Jackson to present the prizes post race.

Race 5 and race 6 Sponsored by Lawson’s Dry Hills
Div 1 Winner: Last Sirrah, Marty Harris, Young 10
Div 2 Winner: Coup Detat 2, Clive Ballett, Farr 1020
Div 3 Winner: Indelible, Tom Hutcheson, Dehler 40
Race 6:
Div 1 Winner: Last Sirrah, Marty Harris, Young 10
Div 2 Winner: Sequin, Adrienne Crossen, Jeanneau
Div 3 Winner: Indelible, Tom Hutcheson, Dehler 41.

SERIES WINNERS SPONSORED BY HURRICANE RIGGING
Div 1 First: Last Sirrah, Marty Harris, Young 10 8 Pts
Div1 2nd: High Voltage; Glen Robertson, Elliot 1050 9 pts
Div1 3rd: Cisco, Matt Stechman, Mull 9.5. 14 Pts

Div2: First, Sequin, Adrienne Crossen, Jeanneau 10 ptsDiv 2: 2nd, Coup Detat2, Clive Ballett, Farr 1020. 11 pts

Div 2: 3rd, Sausy Sauage, James Snowden, Warwick Stratus 747 12 pts

Div 3: First: Indilble, Tom Hutcheson. Dehler 41, 5 pts
Div 3: 2nd : Celebrity, Rob Blathwayt. Farr 38 6pts
Div 3: 3rd, Final Countdown, Bryce Ecklien, Young 88 11 Pts.

Prize giving was held in the club post racing, followed by crew viewing photographs of their many gallant efforts to fly spinnakers. In all a great weekend racing was had by all. We are looking forward to next year’s event.