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Auckland Regatta cancelled in wake of severe flooding

Due to the devastating floods, the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta has been cancelled for the second time in its 183-year history.

Event organisers decided to cancel the event after a crisis meeting following the floods on Friday night and the announcement of a state of emergency for the region.

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“We were looking at marginal conditions on Monday with the wind strength, the sea state, and the Harbourmaster has reported a lot of dangerous debris in the water from all the rain, so the safety of everyone involved is our number one concern,” says regatta chairman David Stone. 

“With emergency services already stretched dealing with the flooding across Auckland, it would be irresponsible to go ahead. We also have a social responsibility, and the committee strongly felt it would be inappropriate to hold a regatta while the city of Auckland is suffering as it is.”

Since it began in 1840, the only other time the regatta was cancelled was in 1900 due to the war in South Africa. Last year’s event was largely unaffected despite Auckland being at ‘red’ under the Covid Protection Framework. The only exceptions were the Dragon Boating and Waka Ama events, which had to be cancelled last year due to restrictions on gathering numbers.

This year the Dragon Boat fleets were looking forward to a full-capacity event in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, with some 360 paddlers in 45 boats signed up to part. The fleet’s coordinator said they were looking forward to putting on a great show for spectators this year, with improved viewing from around the Viaduct.

Waka Ama paddlers had also hoped to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their participation in the regatta this year, having missed out last year.

While the crews of many of Auckland’s iconic fleet of classic yachts, launches, and tugboats were also gearing up to participate in one of the world’s biggest one-day regattas, along with dinghy-sailors at venues around the city, and radio-controlled yacht sailors.

This year’s event was also set to feature a new launch parade around Westhaven and the Auckland CBD waterfront, celebrating the last 100 years of power-driven craft design.

“The regatta is used to going ahead even in times of adversity, and there’s a real sense of duty to Auckland to deliver a historical event that is so well loved and means so much to people, so the decision to cancel was not taken lightly,” says Regatta media liaison Helen Horrocks.

“But of course, safety takes priority, and organisers decided it would be irresponsible to go ahead in light of the current situation in Auckland.”

The next regatta will take place on Auckland Anniversary Monday 29 January, 2024, and organisers say they focus on putting on a fantastic event for all to enjoy next year.

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Photography: Lissa Photography

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