Warkworth riverside dinner could have been regatta
A number of times the Mahurangi Regatta has had to be cancelled.
On one occasion, controversially, it was the weather before the regatta, rather than on the day, that caused the cancellation of the shoreside regatta—the unprecedentedly rain-soaked regional park wouldn’t have accommodated the thousand cars expected.
It is now some considerable time since the sailing has been cancelled. There are sufficient stout souls who strongly resent being denied the opportunity of pitting themselves and their craft against the elements to ensure that the racing organisers would be most reluctant to intervene. But while it is hoped that the threshold is never reached, it is conceivable that that forecast conditions could be so extreme that it would be blatantly irresponsible for even the most gung-ho committee to not call off the racing—the risk to life and craft simply too great.
The prize-giving and dance is another thing entirely. Weather that would simply be a romp, sailing around Saddle Island and back, would equally be madness for a marquee event—the 2003 weather-bomb-wrecked Rotary International charity fundraiser at Kawau Island was all too close to home.
As for the Warkworth riverside dinner planned for this evening, one table of eight has voted to celebrate the editor’s birthday at 590 Mahurangi West Road, and donate the ticket money to the Jane Gifford and the Kawau Coastguard—making a little more space for those brave souls who elect soldier on…
…in the ground floor of the New World car park.
Mahurangi Regatta supporters and collaborators
Auckland Council
Browns Bay Boating Club
Bucklands Beach Yacht Club
Classic Yacht Association
Corporate AV Services
Devonport Yacht Club
Ester Electrical – Scotts Landing prize-giving-and-dance lighting
Gulf Harbour Yacht Club
Mahurangi Action—principal organiser, revived regatta in 1977
Mahurangi Cruising Club—host club and sailing organiser
Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association—co-host of prize giving and dance
Mahurangi Oyster Farmers Association
Milford Cruising Club
Nautica Shipping & Logistics
New World Warkworth
Panmure Yacht and Boating Club
Pine Harbour Cruising Club
Prestige Loos
Richmond Yacht Club
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Sandspit Yacht Club
Teak Construction—principal regatta sponsor
Weiti Boating Club
West City Jazz Orchestra