Overview
The Waiheke Wine Race is the kind of thing that happens when wine growers and sailors put their heads together. The collaboration between the Waiheke Winegrowers Association and a handful of local seamen/seawomen has been created to encourage more people to enjoy the fruits of the Island of Wine and set sail in the Waitemata Harbour.
For the inaugural regatta in March 2019, participants will cast anchor from the shores of Man O' War Bay with a bottle of wine in hand, before travelling 25 nautical miles across the Waitemata Harbour to deliver the year's first Waiheke wines to the city centre.
The event will kick off with a beach-side barbecue and yacht sleepover the night before and will conclude with a wine tasting session and prize-giving ceremony at Westhaven Marina. It's anticipated that up to 100 people and five vineyards will take part in the 2019 race. To fill those spots, organisers are currently seeking crew that have an affinity for wine and are willing to follow instructions. No experience is necessary. Where do we sign up?
The crew ticket package includes an official race goodie bag, an overnight stay on the host yacht and wine and food tasting. The race is also seeking skippers with their own vessel and crew of four people and captains who can host a crew.
For more information and to pre-register for tickets, visit the Waiheke Wine Race website.