Welcome to the World-Famous crew.org.nz Rum Race!
This race is or should I say was a permanent fixture on Auckland's yachting calendar prior to covid. In collaboration with the Ponsonby Cruising Club, the Rum Race is back again in 2024, so you can be part of an illustrious tradition.
Prizes are given out for the best dressed crew and boat, among others, but you need to be there no matter how big or small your vessel is!
How to enter
Simply email the following details to info@pcc.org.nz
- Name
- Boat Name
- Type of Boat
- Sail Number
- Email Address
- Phone Number
The entry fee is $25 per boat. We will reply with instructions on how to pay. All entries on the day will be accepted at the PCC office and will need to be done early enough to provide you with a suitable start time late entries will be given a time based on your shoe size.
Sailing Instructions
Firstly and Mostly THIS IS NOT A FORMAL RACE!!
It's run under the COLREGS, NOT RRS, and there is no officiating Yacht Club. Therefore no silliness such as "mark room" no luffing" or any other of the usual argy bargy! Keep Clear and have Fun!!!
The start will be at 5.00 pm, with a mass finish planned. Handicaps are provided courtesy of the excellent racetrack.org.nz.
- Keep your VHF on channel 17 for race control.
- Colregs will apply
- Start line is from the tower on the breakwater to the yellow mark (ODM to the cognoscenti), finish line is a transit through these two i.e. you can finish outside the line.
- 5 min warning at 5.40 pm.
- 4 min another noise
- 1 min. Another noise.
- 5.45 first start – noise time is displayed at tower.
- 5.46 numbers change, more noise
- Get the idea, till all boats have started.
- Course will be posted on Crew.org.nz on 18th as well.
- Race pennant will be an item of clothing in the rig. Use your imagination.
- Dressing up and acting silly is encouraged, there will be a prize for best dressed
- Protests will not be accepted
- This is a rum race, so sails allowed are limited to Mains, Mizzens, sails designed to be attached to the forestay, mizzen staysails, gollywobblers.
Prizegiving and Party
After the race, there will be a prizegiving and party at the Ponsonby Cruising Club. We aim to have everyone finished racing by 7.30pm. The prize giving will be done and dusted by 9.00 p.m sharp, the extremely generous prizes will be given out on a first up best dressed basis. If you're not present, the next boat will get them! Once the music starts after the formalities, no one knows when the party ends.
The idea is to get non-sailors out on the water - remember this is a one-off sailing event not a race, so it's the perfect opportunity to introduce friends to our sport. There will be spot prizes and most importantly, prizes for best stuff ups, so get out there and go sailing!