A brilliant sunny day with a smooth harbour greeted 107 waka crews entered in the 2016 Whaingaroa Hoe on Saturday 24th April.
Throughout the day, waka raced up and down the harbour. Shorter 8km races made for a buoy off Moonlight Bay while the longer 24km races made for a buoy halfway up the Waingaro arm of the harbour.
The day started at 6.30 am with rigging and registration Marine Parade, Raglan Domain. After a karakia and race briefing, at 9am the 8km W6 Open, Novice and Junior event started outside the Estuary Entrance, between Orange Buoys.
Next up at 10.47am was the 24km W6 Women and Mixed starting inside the Estuary off Boat ramp.
At 11.00 am the prize giving for the Open, Novice and Junior 8km was held.
In the afternoon the 24km W6 Men got underway. This was followed at 3.00 pm by the prize giving for the Men, Women and Mixed 24km.