News
Keeping Sails in the City of Sails: Auckland Clubs & Classes Unite for Ultimate Mid-Week Sprint Series
Published Wed 16 Sep 2026
With daylight saving kicking off on September 27 and racing starting September 29, summer is hurtling toward us. Boat owners and crew need to get their acts together fast: dust off the sailing gear, find the in-date sunblock, tune the rig, lock in the crew pool, and clear midweek calendars.
Auckland sailors are clocking off to swap spreadsheets for spinnakers this summer to launch the keelboat "City of Sails Sprints".
Designed as the ultimate antidote to the workday grind, this unique collaboration between the Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club (NBYC), Ponsonby Cruising Club (PCC) and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) pulls Auckland's competitive fleets into a unified series for high-adrenaline, short-course racing.
The Lowdown: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
-
Who:NBYC, PCC, and RNZYS, join forces with the Young 88, Stewart 34, MRX, Etchells, andElliott 7, classes.
-
What: Fast-paced, windward-leeward sprint racing featuring up to three races per night with a target duration of 20 minutes per race. Special rule modifications even allow on-water coaching, mixing pure competition with high-value learning.
-
Where: On the Harbour waters directly East and West of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
-
When: Running weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from September 29, 2026 through April 1, 2027 (with a brief mid-summer holiday break). Each fleet races fortnightly, alternating more leisurely Wednesday Harbour racing with windward-leeward sprints.
-
Racing starts at 1800hrs.
-
How: Official Website, full series details, Notice of Race, crew opportunities and entry information by competing class link are available at the City ofSails Sprint Series site.
-
Why: To eliminate split-fleet calendar clashes, cut operational costs, and get more sails and crews out on the water, learning and having fun.
Get Sorted: Escape the Desk for On-Water Action
By pooling volunteer race management teams, mark boats, and safety assets onto a single course per night, the series delivers maximum racing density, optimising club and owner budgets and crew schedules.
Each race evening wraps up early enough for teams to head ashore, debrief at the club bar over a cold drink, and analyse tactical moves before the weekend even hits.
With entries closing at the end of September, now is the time for skippers to firm their plans, rally their crews, and get the boats sprint-ready.
Supporters
