Tauranga Harbour “heaving” this Sunday – triathletes, yachts and fishing boats

Friday 2 December

“Tauranga Harbour is the place to be on Sunday,” according to Glenn Ormsby, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager. Tinman triathletes will start their ocean swim when the whistle blows at 8am, followed by the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race boats setting off with a spectacular parade of sail, while fishermen battle it out at sea in the De Coro Softbait Masters Fishing Competition.

Around 500 athletes will run, swim and bike against the stunning backdrop of Mauao (Mount Maunganui) and the competition will be fierce. 

TVNZ presenter Peter Williams is taking part in the Tinman as a team runner and he’s thrilled to see the Bay of Plenty ready for summer.  “Tinman shows what fine form the Bay of Plenty is in again – the beaches are open and the water’s cleared for swimming.

“This is the second time I’ve taken part in the Tinman and it must be one of the most beautiful race courses in the world,” says Mr Williams.

The race ends with a 10km run around Mauao and down The Mall to end at Salisbury Avenue and the contestants are expected to arrive there from 10am onwards.  Current Ironman champion and former world number one triathlete Sam Warriner and last year’s winner Callum Millward will be going for Tinman gold, to the delight of the crowd.

And the Tinman swimmers won’t be the only ones in the water on Sunday.  The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race continues the fourth leg of its journey this afternoon on to the Gold Coast with a parade of sail around Tauranga Harbour, complete with pipe band and general onshore festivities.

“The Clipper crew have had a fantastic time here in Tauranga – the first and only New Zealand stopover in the race’s history.  They’ve visited White Island and had a great time paddle boarding and soaking up the sun, sea, ice cream and good times at the Mount,” says Heather Ewing, Clipper communications manager.

The yachts will leave Tauranga Bridge Marina at 11.30am and the parade of sail starts at 12.45pm from next to the cruise terminal , with the ten identical Clipper yachts  sailing in formation past Pilot Bay towards the Mount, where they will pay their respects to Tangaroa  as they pass on their way out of the harbour.  The best views in town will be from Pilot Bay and the Mauao Base Track so head down for a good viewing sport.  Then get to the Mount Maunganui beach at 2.30pm to watch the race start.  The yachts start offshore and race back towards buoys close to the beach for a dramatic race start.

And that’s not all – competitors in the De Coro Softbait Masters Fishing Competition are out in the harbour and surrounding waters this weekend too, taking part in the first fishing competition to be held here since the Rena grounded. 

“This is great timing for us – the fishing’s amazing at the moment and health authorities have given the green light to eat fish and crayfish from the Bay of Plenty again.  I think we’ll be looking at some new fishing records this weekend!” says organiser Kane Tapper from De Coro Fishing Supplies.

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Note for local media – the intersection of Salisbury Avenue and The Mall will be closed until around 4pm due to the Tinman event.  However vehicle access to most of The Mall will reopen from 11.30am.

For more information, contact:

Heather Ewing – Clipper communications manager, 021 265 5045

Kane Tapper – De Coro Fishing Supplies, 027 4488 272

Janette Blyth – The Patter (event manager for Tinman), 021 745 676

Rachel Lynch – Tourism Bay of Plenty communications, 021 0533 257