The winter cobwebs have been well and truly blown away.
Cambridge-based Scout Tristan Wang is front and centre in this photo taken by Scouts Aotearoa national commissioner Raani Kelderman at the 49th Alistair Kerr Waikato Spring Regatta.
Scout cutters, kayaks and sunbursts took to Lake Rotoroa for the first official boating event of the organisation’s 2025/26 season with the 49th Alistair Kerr Waikato Spring Regatta.
More than 200 scouts, and adult supporters, were joined by Scouts Aotearoa national commissioner Raani Kelderman on the water in Hamilton to race for the sheer fun of it.
They came from all over the Upper North Island.
Among them was Cambridge based senior team leader Tristan Wang, 14, fresh from completing his Chief Scout’s Rimu Award.
Tristan had planned and completed a three-day adventurous tramping journey in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park with other scouts as part of his award.
Wang claimed two first places, one second and a third.
“I am very happy with that,” he said.
His next adventure is joining two other scouts on three-day sailing journey up the Waikato River.
For some, the non-competitive regatta was only their second time on a boat.
“The Spring Regatta is an amazing event enabling our youth members to get out there and try things alongside hundreds of their peers,” Kelderman said.
“I’m proud of the determination that I saw as young people tipped their boats and got back in, learned kayaking on the fly and had a great time.”
“A personal highlight of the day was getting an opportunity to learn how to drive the safety boat. As an adult, it is often challenging to receive a casual lesson to expand your own knowledge base. However, in scouts, there are endless opportunities to learn and grow alongside youth members.”
It was only the second time a commemorative event badge had been produced for the regatta in the Waikato colours of black, red, and yellow.
Scouts Aotearoa Waikato Zone water activities advisor Dave Smith said it was wonderful to have so many groups join from all over the Upper North Island.
“The Waikato Spring Regatta gets scouts afloat after the quieter winter months; ‘blows away the cobwebs’ and gets all youth involved, enjoying themselves and having fun.
“This year we also welcomed a new group to the regatta who have not been before, and I was heartened by how their leaders supported their Scouts.”
Standard Scout Cutter 210 gets underway with Scouts Aotearoa national commissioner Raani Kelderman aboard for the Open Cutter Rowing race. Photo: Chris Gardner
