2027 Waikawa New year Regatta

• Location: Based at the Waikawa Boating Club (Waikawa Marina, Picton), with racing held across the picturesque waters of inner Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui.
• When: Held annually over three days in mid-January, starting with a Friday evening Twilight race, followed by full days of racing on Saturday and Sunday.
• Fleet: Typically features 15–25 boats and over 100 sailors, spanning high-performance race crews, shorthanded sailors, and cruising enthusiasts.
  

The atmosphere off the water is just as important as the action on it. The regatta hosts a full social lineup in the Waikawa Boating Club wardroom, overlooking the marina:

• Friday: Welcome drinks and daily prize-giving after the Twilight race.
• Saturday: Crew BBQ, live entertainment, and day-two prize presentations.
• Sunday: Post-race platters followed by the final regatta trophy ceremony.
  

• Eligibility: Skippers and crew must be financial members of a Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) affiliated club.
• Registration: Online entries open late in the year via the Waikawa Boating Club website, with early-bird rates available until mid-December.
  

The regatta caters to both serious racing fleets and relaxed cruising yachts across three main divisions:

• Division 1 & 2 (Spinnaker / Open): High-energy racing combining harbour courses, tactical short-course racing ("round-the-cans"), and fast-paced 30-minute sprints.
• Division 3 (Non-Spinnaker / White Sails): Ideal for shorthanded crews and cruising boats, featuring scenic harbour courses using standard upwind and headsail setups.
• Handicaps & Scoring: Results are calculated using National Handicap (NHC1), PHRF, Two-Handed divisions, and Line Honours.
  

For spectators staying on land, Karaka Point along Port Underwood Road provides an elevated vantage point to watch the fleet cross the Sound.