General information for Yacht Racing at Waikawa Boating Club.
WBC Racing Offers divisions for the more serious who fly their spinnakers to the more cruise orientated yachts who race the white sails division, we have a full and varied racing program.
Each season we have new owners who are learning and there is plenty of helpful and useful advice to be given if requested. We aim to get new owners out onto the water enjoying their boat.
There are also opportunities for people who are new to sailing to
a) Join a racing crew. Email events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz with a bio summary of your boating experience (or not) with your contact details. Your bio will be sent to our skippers who are looking for crew. Interested skippers will contact you.
b) Come and join our Race Management Team. Here’s a brief description of the positions. Email events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz with your interest.
If you wish to race your yacht with Waikawa Boating Club for the first time you will need to fill out the two online forms below at least 72 hours before you want to race and purchase a race pass. A requirement is that your yacht must be insured for racing and we require a copy of cover for the recorders prior to your first race. If you simply turn up on the start line you will not be permitted to race as this potentially poses insurance risks for you and other participants.
We need to know about your boat to give you a handicap.
We need to know what series you are interested in. We also need a copy of your insurance cover. This can be uploaded in the online form below together with your season intentions.
You indicate on this form which Races or Series you wish to enter and make a safety declaration.
Skippers are charged $16 for each race started. Race passes are on a pre pay basis and should be purchased prior to your first race. The more races you pre purchase the bigger the discount.
Before each season the club produces a Racing Handbook containing the details of the race serieses and the sailing instructions. The current 2025-2026 hand book can be downloaded below
Each year WBC reviews its courses, click the link below for the 2025-2026 series course card
Below is the kink for the current Safety Regulations
Below is the link to the current Racing Rules of Sailing
Note: Waikawa Boating Club uses Sailwave for the results and the times will be as per Sailwave to the nearest second and not decimal parts of a second. All times in seconds, and any decimals are rounded to the nearest whole figure with a decimal of 0.5 and above rounded up, and less than 0.5 rounded down
MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS MARINAS SPRING TWILIGHT – Tuesdays before ChristmasA 10 race series with spinnaker and white sails divisions. Races utilise traditional spinnaker “round the cans” races and the more gentle Mark Foy handicap races, which do not fly spinnakers. The Spring Twilight Series is sponsored by Marlborough Sounds Marinas.
TEMPELLO SPRING TWILIGHT SHORTHANDED – ThursdaysAn 11 race series for divisions 1 & 2. Races utilise traditional “round the cans” races. The Spring Twilight Shorthanded Series is sponsored by Tempello Farm.
VERSATILE SUMMER TWILIGHT – Tuesdays after Christmas
This is a 10 race series across three divisions. This series is sponsored by Versatile Homes & Buildings.
RIVERBY ESTATE HARBOUR SERIES – An 8 race series held from December to March on Sundays, with a combination of short and long harbour races across the series. This series is sponsored by local wine producer Riverby Estate Wines.
BOOM TOWN BREWING FUN SERIES
A 3 race series with the fleet competing in different types of racing; cans, long harbour and lap racing could well be part of the programme. This series is sponsored by Boom Town Brewing Co.
OFFSHORE SERIES
These races are open to keelers only and provide an excellent series of offshore races and all that brings to the sport.
All offshore races require yachts to have at least Category 3 Safety Certificates
AON/ Marlborough Sounds Marinas NEW YEAR REGATTA
A highlight of the racing calendar with two full days of racing including a mixture of short and medium length courses. There is excellent support with yachts from Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington attending.
NEW ZEALAND KING SALMON WINTER SERIES
These are the only races throughout the winter and are held on every second Sunday. The races are planned to last approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours and are very well supported in two divisions. There are 10 races scheduled for this series. Partnered with New Zealand King Salmon.
WAIKAWA BOATING CLUB WOMEN’S REGATTA: Largest women’s regatta in NZ, two days of racing and a social programme covering three days.