The South Island Championships are back on the NZOKDA calendar, with Nelson Yacht Club hosting the fleet over the weekend of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026.

It is a welcome addition to what is shaping up as a busy season. Nelson ticks just about every box a travelling OK sailor could ask for – a sheltered harbour that rewards good boat handling, dependable summer breezes across Tasman Bay, and a club with a long record of running well-organised regattas.

For North Island sailors it is a genuinely easy trip. The ferry puts you within a comfortable drive of the club, and shared trailers make the journey both cheaper and considerably more entertaining. If you have been meaning to sail a South Island regatta, this is the one to commit to.

Notice of Race, sailing instructions and online entry will follow closer to the date and will be posted here as soon as they are available. In the meantime, get the dates in the diary and start rounding up a trailer.

South Island Championships
Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 December 2026
Nelson Yacht Club

View the event on the calendar