Overview
The Royal Akarana Yacht Club began in 1895 as the North Shore Sailing Club in Devonport, set up as a more open alternative to the Auckland Yacht Club, moved to the Parnell foreshore as the Akarana Yacht Club in 1922 and has been at The Landing in Okahu Bay, on the Waitematā a few minutes from the city, for around half a century. Since 2021 it has sailed from the Akarana Marine Sports Centre, a shared clubhouse the club built through its own trust for all the marine sports clubs on the Landing. Known as the home of bluewater sailing in New Zealand, it runs the offshore Bluewater Championship, the Cavalli Islands Race, the harbour Gold Cup series and, with the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race. It also has one of the country's largest youth academies (Opti, Starling, RS Feva), 12 ft and 18 ft skiff fleets, team racing and a surf-ski paddling group.
- Founded
- 1895
- Clubhouse
- Akarana Marine Sports Centre, completed 2021, 800+ m² training and education space
- Federation
- Yachting New Zealand
- comms@rayc.co.nz
On the water with VesselSOS
- Family see you from shoreA live link in any browser – they don’t need the app.
- One tap to the right rescue centreHere 111 · New Zealand – the app switches centre as you move, with your position and call script even without signal.
- Return-time checkIf you’re not back in time, your people know.
- Shared hazard mapRocks, nets and other hazards reported by other boaters.
Regattas and series
Run or hosted by the club, per the club website. Dates and notices are on the club site.
- Cavalli Islands Raceoffshore race north to the Cavalli Islands, part of the Bluewater Championship
- BlueWater Championshippoints series over the club's offshore races
- Gold Cup Series (incl. Bean Rock Race, Balokovic Cup)harbour and gulf keelboat series; the Balokovic Cup reaches its 90th edition in 2026–27
- Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race1,250 nm trans-Tasman Category 1 race with the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
- Keelboat Nationals
- P Class North Island Championships 2026
- Secondary Schools Team Racing Regionals and Open Team Racing Nationals
- Spring, Summer, Autumn and Ice Breaker series
Live map, a start clock on every phone and results — when the club runs a race on VesselSOS Racing, it shows up here. Racing is a pilot with clubs for the 2027 season.
No race running right nowSee VesselSOS RacingSailing school and courses
Boat classes
History and achievements
- 1895The North Shore Sailing Club is formed in Devonport as an open alternative to the Auckland Yacht Club
- 1898Promotes the Restricted Patiki, New Zealand's first established centreboard class, and is involved in the country's first major international regatta
- 1900Backs the new 24 ft linear-rater keelboats; several still sail
- 1901Renamed the North Shore Yacht Club
- 1922Moves to a new site at Mechanics Bay, Parnell, and becomes the Akarana Yacht Club; requests the V-class for 18 ft square-bilge boats
- 2021The Akarana Marine Sports Centre opens at The Landing, Okahu Bay, as a shared clubhouse
Location
- Position
- 36°50.99′ S 174°48.64′ E
-36.84988, 174.81074 - Address
- 8-10 Tamaki Drive, Okahu Bay
Frequently asked
Can I learn to sail here?
Yes. The club lists these courses: Junior pathways: Opti Levels 1–3, Green Fleet, White Fleet, Open Fleet, Starling, RS Feva.
Who do I call in an emergency at sea here?
Sea rescue: 111 · New Zealand 111. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16.
When was Royal Akarana Yacht Club founded?
In 1895.
Which regattas does the club run?
According to the club website, among others: Cavalli Islands Race, BlueWater Championship, Gold Cup Series (incl. Bean Rock Race, Balokovic Cup) and Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race.