TARANAKI WAVE CLASSIC 2024

The oldest windsurfing event in New Zealand

The Taranaki Wave Classic (TWC) has been an absolute cracker of an event this year. With over 60 participants and exciting but unusual weather forecast, a lot of windsurfers wingfoilers were presented with a wide variety of locations all along the coast of the Taranaki Bight.

Water Nomads had already spent a week in the Taranaki region before the event and scored a good variety of conditions. From fickle cross-offshore mast high wave conditions in Pungarehu to classic windy Waitara windsurfing. Also wing foiling in Bayly Rd north peak swells in a Northerly to beautiful flat water winging in the Port. With a windy forecast (though not the usual classic Taranaki conditions), we were excited to have our guests for the Taranaki Wave Classic Surfari Trip all arrive early on Thursday afternoon. This should give us a chance to get everyone on the water before the forecasted rain would hit the next few days. While the clouds came in early in New Plymouth, we had an absolute blast down the coast in Kina Road with a strong Northwesterly and stunning sunshine. Even the snowy peak of Mount Taranaki came out to look down on us at some stage!

A head high messy wave kept us well entertained. The wind increased during the afternoon, and Brian had to keep rigging down, until he was eventually blown off the water. Joe was dubious if his 3.9m sail would be big enough but was glad after the session, he didn’t rig any bigger. Heidi found the 3.3m sail getting a bit of a handful, and Chris was absolutely ripping on his 3m wing, getting right into the thick of it – not a bad show for a Taranaki baptism! On the way back to our accommodation in Oakura, we did the ‘Tiki-Tour’ past Pungarehu and Baylys to introduce our guests to the different spots and possibilities.

On Friday, more people from Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington arrived in Taranaki. With another Northerly wind forecast on the cards (though less strong than the day before) Chris decided to go for an early session at Bayly Rd, together with Brian and Bevan, eager to try a different spot than the day before. While Chris managed to get out, the wind and waves didn’t cooperate and he did get somewhat rejected. 45 minutes later he was back at the beach, fortunately nothing broken due to impeccable timing through the sets to the boat ramp. Brian and Bevan did the smart thing and just watched…..

We decided to go for the second session of the day and try the port. The wind meters and the water state looked promising, and we happily ignored that none of the wingers managed to get up on the foil. Although the wind was a lot lighter than what it seemed, Chris and Heidi managed to get foiling, but it was hard work.

We all felt we earned a great dinner, cooked by our in-house chef Joe. Great to get to know each other a bit better over a glass of wine and a hearty meal.

Saturday was the first official day of the TWC. It was great to catch up with a few familiar faces at the morning registration in the Taranaki Surf Riders Club. The forecast for the day was wild and messy, another strong Northerly with a short period wind swell made the option of sailing down the South Coast not for the faint hearted. The official call was for sailing at Weld Road (cross-onshore starboard tack), a very unusual spot to sail in a Northerly, but Kina Road would probably have been too offshore and big. It turned out, that Weld Road wasn’t that great either, so some went to Bayly Rd for waves, while others opted for The Port for more bump and jump action. It seems that both of those options worked alright as there were lots of happy smiles at the TWC BBQ and beer in the evening.

Our Water Nomads group decided to stick together and we opted for the Port. Fantastic sailing, excellent winging on the big lumpy swells that rolled in through the entrance – I don’t think the port has ever seen that many windsurfers and wingers on the water at the same time!

Mid afternoon, the forecasted rain started to hit. By then, we had more than enough action and retired back to our accommodation for a chat and a rest. And Bevan had more than enough photos to get through!

Sunday loomed with another Northwesterly wind. The official TWC call was for sailing at Kina Road (slightly cross-onshore conditions as the wind as more WNW than NNW), though a lot of the wing foilers went to Opunake to try out Middleton Bay, and some conversely went to Waitara waiting for the wind to swing in the afternoon. Again, regardless where people went, it seemed like everyone scored on their respective spot. Late afternoon sailing in Waitara and possibly people out in Bayly Rd. We spent some time in Kina Rd (sunny and nice action for the photographer), before joining the wingfoil section in Opunake.

Sunday night is traditionally the centre piece of the event – or at least it is for us: the famous TWC party. A great opportunity to chat to fellow windsurfers (and wingfoilers), catching up with old friends and make new ones. Paella Catering kept us all well fed and the beer from Three Sisters Brewery flowed freely. I’m sure at least a few would have felt it on Monday! Bevan had the photos of the event locations he was able to get to playing on the big screen during dinner, and after the price-giving Sonic Delusion played some funky tunes and the crowd did boogie!

Monday was a bit of a rinse-repeat regarding the conditions with the wind being a tad more West than the day before. Too onshore for Kina Road, so the official recommendation was for sailing at Waitara (conveniently towards home for the Auckland and Tauranga section). Though Middleton was again to tempting for some of the wingers….

Chris went to Middleton again for a wet and wild wing foil session, the rest of us ended up in the port for a fun blast before moving on to Waitara for windy cross-onshore conditions. Towards late afternoon, most out-of-towners had to make a move back home and the carpark emptied out.

It’s been a great event, I can’t wait to be back next year and share the stoke and some waves with you all!