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Brisk winds also meant brisk times in the recent Farmer Autovillage Auckland to Tauranga Centennial Yacht Race/Rally.
Dougal Love in his 60-foot ocean going trimaran Romanza held off the fast-charging New Zealand Ocean Racing team in their V65, finishing in a time of 10 hours, 42 minutes, 46 seconds. This fast time was still 67 minutes outside the race record set by the maxi keeler Zana in 2005.
Third to finish was V5, the TP52 campaigned by former Tauranga yachtie Brian 'BP' Peterson.
Ian Cook is the current owner of the iconic race yacht Ranger, which was built in 1938 and took line honours in the 1939 race, came a very creditable sixth on line and fourth on PHRF against all the modern yachts in this year’s race.
First Tauranga-based yacht was Frenzy, which was fifth on line and seventh on PHRF with an elapsed time of 17hrs, 3mins, 48sec. This made Frenzy the first Tauranga yacht on line and PHRF and first on TYPBC outside handicap, which earned her the prestigious Gold Cup – originally awarded to the first yacht on handicap overall in this race but is now awarded to the first Tauranga yacht.
A brisk headwind north-easterly of 19-25 knots and a lumpy seaway faced the competitors as they crossed the Hauraki Gulf, which proved very challenging for all. But once around Channel Island and heading for Tauranga, they all enjoyed very fast and pleasant sailing with reaching conditions and an easing breeze.
Mike Farmer from Farmer Autovillage congratulated all the crews for their strong performances and fast times and added that it was a pleasure to be involved in local community events such as this historically significant yacht race that was first held in 1921.
In an attempt to attract classic yachts and launches to participate, an invitation was sent out to the Classic Yacht Association in an attempt to attract historic vessels to take part in a rally as opposed to a race, staying overnight at Mercury Cove for the night and restarting the rally the next day. Only Ngaio, a classic 100-year-old launch accepted the invitation and made it to Mercury Cove where the condition of a crew member encouraged them to return to Auckland.
Ngaio was accompanied by Seas the Day and Enculadus, two locally-owned 40-foot cruising yachts.
The New Zealand Ocean Racing team took three separate groups of young people out for a sail around the Tauranga harbour on the Sunday following the race. Skipper Bianca Cook is keen to promote ocean racing as a career option for young people and there were many happy youngsters who thoroughly enjoyed the experience offered.
You can watch a video of the New Zealand Ocean Racing team's race down to Tauranga here.
- Photo: Georgia Schofield / New Zealand Ocean Racing
