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The 2016 Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta is on Jan 9th and 10th at the Waikawa Boating Club. This is the largest keel boat sailing regatta south of Tauranga and the 65th year the Waikawa Boating Club has been hosting boats from our local fleet as well as from Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington and even farther afield. Lawson’s Dry Hills has been the premier sponsor of this exciting event in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds for the past nine years.
Photo by Carlyn Lueken
This year we are expecting an exceptional turn-out as 2015 was our biggest regatta ever with fifty yachts and more than 250 crew participating in this fantastic event. The 26 races over the weekend offer something for every yacht and sailor with long and short courses, spinnaker and white-sails divisions as well as a Farr 1020 division. The event kicks off on the Friday night with the PIC Insurance invitational twilight race. This race will allow the skippers to put their craft and crew through their final paces before the regatta begins the following morning.
The regatta has keel, sport and trailer boat divisions that will have the crews pushing their boats to the limits in fast-action races around a short course. In the two cruising divisions the races will take in more of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound in a perfect combination of long course and competition. For Farr 1020 skippers the regatta is an ideal opportunity to test their yacht against nearly identical rivals.
Photo by Carolyn Lueken
With the Marlborough Sounds being the home of the Lawson’s Dry Hills New Year Regatta there is no better place to bring your yacht full of family and friends for some sailing in summer paradise with a bit of racing thrown in. There are also many local activities and attractions for the landlubbers as well.
This fabulous event has cash prizes totalling $3000 as well as fantastic wine from Lawson’s Dry Hills for the winners. For the second year running we have also partnered with local business sponsors to award great prizes to the top yachts in each individual race.
The Notice of Race is out now at www.waikawaboatingclub.co.nz with early-bird discount on registration until Nov 30th! Come sail, race and cruise in Marlborough’s ultimate playground.
For more information contact:
Heather Barnes
Waikawa Boating Club
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
03 573 6798
