02

DAY

challenging wind conditions, but also ofers

abundant shelter, plenty of depth and endless

quiet anchorages – one of the reasons the local

town of Russell became the first permanent

European settlement in New Zealand. The

town’s famous – and, at various points in its

history, infamous – Duke of Marlborough pub

was the focal point of the regatta, the venue for

pre-race briefings and post-race drinks.

It was here that regatta handicapper Jim

Teeters revealed the race would be run under

a new handicapping system – with 50 per cent

of the handicap applied at the staggered start,

and the remaining applied in time lost or

gained once boats crossed the finishing line.

The aim was to group the six-strong fleet at the

halfway mark.

On day one, sponsored by Orams Marine,

it was Ammonite that found the best of the light

conditions in the first race, beating the 33.83m

Dubois-designed Silvertip over the line by just

four seconds. The Southern Wind, with Doyle

Sails CEO Mike “Moose” Sanderson on

This page, clockwise from
above: the stunning 28.1m
Alloy Yachts-built Tawera;
rail discipline on board
Ammonite; gybing in the light
airs on day two; Silvertip
drops her kite

http://www.boatinternational.com | April 2018