Issue date
Five months from race start, the latest of 13 boats to put their hand up so far for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji Ocean race in June 2013 may also turn out to be the smallest in the fleet.
Lew Anne is an 11m John Lidgard design, built from cement, and weighing in at over 12 tonnes. She is owned by Dave Harding, who is now nearly 70 and who started building her in his backyard in Onehunga in 1965, finished building her in 1995, and who last took part in the Auckland to Fiji race in 1999.
Lew Anne continues to be a labour of love for Dave, who since 1999 has sailed up and down the coast of New Zealand in Lew Anne, delivered several boats to New Zealand from Australia, and who still races when he can, including annually in the Coastal Classic race from Auckland to Russell, with his sailing mate Jim Sharp, also known as 'Big Jim', who flies up from the South Island to join him.
Others to put their hand up as keen to take part in the Fiji race include the crew of the Beneteau 45 Outrageous Fortune, which under Quintin Fowler's ownership is an experienced offshore campaigner, and completed the 2011 Sydney to Hobart, and the Beneteau First 44.7 Notorious, which is well known as a round the buoys and coastal racer based in Auckland that finished third in B Division at Bay of Islands Sailing Week in January.
Flyer, an Elliott 1350 owned by Stuart Reed and Malcolm Johnston, normally staunch rum race supporters, also hope to participate, and the syndicate-owned boat, Team Squealer, a 10.5m Elliott based in Tauranga, has confirmed that it will race, following the completion of its 350nm qualifying event before Christmas.
In the cruising division there are three boats and talk of an option to start at Opua. The boats are Vision which is owned by Kerry Mair and son Steve, who is also Rear Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and director of event sponsor, Manson Anchors. Tony Nicklin's Independent, a Frers First 42, will return after a great race in 2011, and the Davidson IOR Archon, owned by Tristan and Elizabeth Ward, also hopes to compete.
Current multihull record holder for the event, TeamVodafoneSailing, has not completed a formal Expression of Interest, but will race. TeamVodafone finished the race in 103 hours, 20 minutes and 57 seconds in 2011, when Emirates Team New Zealand's Volvo Ocean Race entry, Camper, also set a monohull record, of 103 hours, 38 minutes and 16 seconds.
The New Zealand Sailing Trust also plans for both Lion New Zealand and Steinlager II to participate.
The RNYZS offers help and advice for any boat owner or crew member, in New Zealand or overseas, that is thinking of entering.
The race will finish in the resort of Musket Cove in Fiji, which is known for a high standard of marina and berthing facilities, and a great place to celebrate the race finish and enjoy a holiday.
The Auckland-Fiji race, which commences for the Racing Division on 1 June 2013, will start off Westhaven Marina in Auckland, New Zealand, is 1,150 miles long, and includes a cruising rally that will start when the conditions are right, in the week prior to the race start. An option of starting in Opua is currently being considered.
A Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and Expression of Interest form is available on the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron website, www.rnzys.org.nz, or by calling Melanie Benton on 09 360 6809. The race is supported by Manson Anchors, TNL GAC Pindar, and PredictWind.com.
ENDS
By Zoe Hawkins for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Images: Vision will race to Fiji but in full cruising mode. Photo by Rob Web
