A new option for Anniversary Weekend
When early rumours hinted that Bay of Islands Sailing Week might be cancelled, Ponsonby Cruising Club and Kawau Boating Club spotted an opening. The result is Kawau Race Week 2026, a brand-new regatta set for Friday 23 to Sunday 25 January, designed to combine serious racing with the relaxed social energy that has long defined Auckland’s sailing scene.
“The key elements behind the whole thing are good sailing on the water and even better parties on land,” organising team member Moulët (aka Mark Roberts) told us.
The schedule keeps things simple: one race on Friday afternoon to allow boats to arrive on time, two on Saturday, two on Sunday, including a special two-race regatta for classic boats wanting to join the fun after their Mahurangi weekend, with Monday left free for the easy sail home.
Affordable, local, and easy to reach
Moulët describes the concept as a “start-up, small (cheap) out-of-town regatta” – close enough for Auckland, Gulf Harbour or Sandspit boats to cruise up in a few hours yet far enough to feel like a real getaway.
“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.”
That practicality is deliberate. Delivering a yacht to Russell or Opua can take days, and the cost of marinas, fuel, and accommodation quickly adds up. Kawau Race Week aims to draw sailors who love regattas but can’t spare nine days for a week further North.
Courses and racing style
Racing will use a mix of windward/leeward and passage courses selected daily to suit wind and tide, but here’s the kicker, every course involves at least one island. Expect to see plenty of tight sailing off the island’s picturesque waters of Kawau, where the Race Officer can turn local geography into tactical challenges.
Divisions will be grouped by general handicap + PHRF rating once entries are received, with classes anticipated for 50-footers, 40-footers, strong 30-foot fleets such as Extreme, Ellisunk, Carrera3 & Wild Thing, plus multihulls. There is strong interest from the 8.5 fleet with Hooters, voom! & Attitude to date. Sports boats, and a two-handed will have a section if numbers allow.
The social heartbeat
If the racing provides the structure, the Kawau Boating Club provides the soul. There’ll be happy hours, a live band every night, and a relaxed “raft-up and wander ashore” vibe intended to bring crews together.
“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, nightly gatherings and Sunday’s prize-giving at 5.30 pm will round out the weekend.
Backed by Evolution Sails
Title sponsor Evolution Sails has deep roots in the region. Owner Rodney Keenan lives at Snells Beach, overlooking the racecourse, and was the first entrant with Another Duchess – the Davidson 59 owned by him and 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’s backing extends beyond trophies; the company invests roughly $100,000 a year into New Zealand sailing, now shifting to three-year sponsorship cycles to keep events fresh and sustainable. Kawau Race Week will benefit from that model through to 2028.
Easy entry, simple rules
Entries are open now at pcc.org.nz/kawau, with a $195 fee (or $65/day) including the Sunday classic two-day regatta. All keelboats, multihulls, sports boats, classics and trailer yachts are eligible.
“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.”
A community-first regatta
Beyond racing, the event’s purpose is to revive the sense of shared celebration that once defined classic Hauraki Gulf weekends. It’s an inclusive, club-driven regatta that welcomes everyone from competitive crews to family cruisers.
There’s even talk of special prizes for production boats and a Sunday-only race for yachts finishing the Mahurangi Classics Regatta nearby—encouraging fleets to join the festivities without affecting series scoring.
“It’s all about community,” Moulët said. “People will sell it—not the race committee.”
Roll on Anniversary weekend!
With enthusiastic backing, a perfect long weekend slot, and the promise of cold drinks and live music ashore, Kawau Race Week 2026 looks set to become a fixture on the summer calendar. For many sailors, it offers something long missing—a competitive, affordable, truly local regatta celebrating what Auckland does best: racing hard, laughing louder, and heading home sunburnt and smiling.
