A Race Office Update issued mid-morning confirmed reports from Tapeka and Waitangi showed cloud lifting and visibility improving, giving the Race Committee a clear view of conditions across the race areas. What that view revealed, however, was a bay that remained rough and increasingly unsettled.
Contrary to the forecast, the breeze continued to build rather than ease, with sea state and wind strength combining to create conditions unsuitable for safe racing across the fleet. After monitoring the situation and reassessing throughout the morning, the Race Committee made the call to signal AP over A, abandoning racing for the day.
The decision effectively resets the regatta, with organisers now turning their focus to tomorrow’s programme and hoping for more cooperative conditions.
While the call disappointed crews keen to get their first races underway, it reflects a clear and consistent approach to safety. With a wide mix of boat sizes, crew experience, and divisions competing at Bay Week, maintaining fair and safe racing conditions remains the priority.
The announcement thanked competitors for their patience and understanding, reinforcing that safety comes first. A further social update is expected from organisers later today.
With the fleet now standing down, attention turns to the next weather window and the prospect of getting racing back on track tomorrow. Bay of Islands Sailing Week is known for delivering varied conditions across its courses, and while today belonged to the weather, there is still plenty of racing ahead in the days to come.
