Port Nicholson Regatta looks like biggest yet

by RPNYC media

The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club will host the 10th annual Port Nicholson Regatta from 11-14 February 2010.

This year the club is welcoming IRC keelboats, open keelboats, Ross 780s and sports boats from around the Country to the Club’s annual regatta. The regatta follows hard on the heels of the OK Dinghy Nationals, Inter-Dominions and Worlds being hosted by the Club over the preceding two weeks.

Regatta Director Pedro Morgan is expecting the Regatta’s largest fleet ever. “The Round North Island race, IRC and Ross 780 Nationals and the return of sports boats to the regatta have us expecting a fleet in excess of 50 boats.” The regatta will see a number of Auckland, Christchurch, Picton and Nelson yachts competing in the IRC and open keelboat divisions. Jim Farmer’s new IRC 52 Georgia (Auckland) and Peter Gray’s Young 99 Nonstop (Nelson) will be lining up against top Wellington boats including Andrew Taylor’s Davidson 55 Andiamo, Mike Calkoen’s Young 11 Flying Boat (defending IRC champion) and Tony and Vesna Wells’ Young 11 Clear Vision (defending PHRF and open champion). The Club also has four Farr MRXs available for charter. The MRXs rate extremely well on IRC and offer a real winning chance for crews who are unable to bring their own yachts from out-of-town.

“This regatta is the only real opportunity for keelboats from around New Zealand to compete against each other on handicap” says Morgan.

Keelboats are also invited to take part in the Club’s ‘Settler’s Cup’ race, on 30 January. This race, from Ship Cove to Wellington is timed to catch the Club’s offshore fleet returning from Nelson, and should draw the Club’s largest offshore fleet of the year after the Cook Strait Classic.

This race is a great way for Keelboats from Waikawa and Nelson to make the journey to Wellington. The Ross 780 fleet joins the regatta for the first time, while the sport boats return after several years away. The club has recently had a Shaw 650 join its fleet sparking renews interest in sport boats. RPNYC expects a strong Shaw 650 fleet, with boats expected from Auckland and Christchurch.

In addition to its reputation for great racing, the regatta also has a reputation for putting on a great party. According to the Club’s Rear Commodore, Mandy Scott-Mackie “Last year’s sumo wrestling will be tough to beat, although we have one or two ideas. It wouldn’t be a Port Nicholson Regatta without a party or two”.

Port Nicholson Regatta