Issue date
All three of the first Elliott 5.9 trailer boats ever built, as well as several national champions and award-winning yachtsmen, are expected to race in the Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series Regatta, hosted by Opua Cruising Club on 25th and 26th May, 2013.
The original three Elliott 5.9s - Zoot Allures, Brzo and Mod (now renamed The Blurr) - were all built in 1983, and are still strong competitors today.
Zoot Allures, now owned and raced by Dave Cochran and representing Onerahi Yacht Club, is a multiple national champion. As is Brzo, now owned and raced by Gillian Williams and E5.9 class association president Nathan Williams.
The Blurr, which has yet to win a national championship, has been recently refurbished and is expected to be raced by a top crew from Auckland. Her owners - Simon Manning and Andy Robertson - have also refurbished another boat, Voodoo, which they will be racing in the regatta.
The Opua-based regatta will also see the return of the twice national champion Lambada. After a number of years away, Lambada has just relocated from Blenheim to Auckland, and is a welcome addition to the growing North Island fleet.
Northland Sailor of the Year Chris Hornell will be racing his E5.9 Cut Lunch in the forthcoming Opua-based regatta, and Volvo Ocean Race winner Mike Sanderson, who has recently bought twice national champion E5.9 Icebreaker, is hoped to be in attendance too.
Opua Cruising Club, with the support of Kerikeri sailmakers Willis Sails, will host the regatta, which is the first Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series Regatta of the 2013-2014 season.
The Notice of Race, Entry Form and Sailing Instructions are available on the OCC website. The NZ Elliott 5.9 Association also has an active Facebook page, where you can find out more about this growing class.
