Zana set for record in Auckland to Noumea Race

by Fendall Halliburton on 6 Jun 2004 After five hours racing the 30m maxi Zana was abeam of Poor Knights Island on the North East coast of New Zealand and on record pace, Hydroflow is of Sail Rock in Bream Bay.

The start of the 2004 Aircalin Auckland Noumea ocean race was a spectacular affair with the fleet struck by a 30 knot Westerly squall in the final minute before start time. The sudden acceleration upset the start strategy of a number of boats.

Second Life rounded up approaching the mark boat HMNZS Kahu and was forced to tack away. Zana found themselves at full power on starboard jibe as they were preparing to jibe onto port for their approach to the start and delayed their jibe to approach the line as a result.

Lightspeed down to leeward on the line had no problem with a first class start and likewise for General Jackson.

Bare Essentials the Robinson 56 of Boyd Smith powered up in the squall to surge across the line only to find the boat ahead General Jackson taking evasive action to avoid the oncoming trailer yacht Smak which was out of control in the squall and approaching the oncoming race fleet on starboard tack.

Bare Essentials was forced head to wind in a violent bulb keel-baring manoeuvre, which allowed arch rival Hydroflow to seize the early lead.

Zana however was now in the groove and carving her way through the fleet like a great white shark to assume her place at the front of the fleet. by North Head.

The fleet rounded North Head to set course for Rangitoto Light and on to Tiri Matangi Island with the likely fleet order already established.

The 98-foot Zana leading from Hydroflow and Bare Essentials. In the rest of the fleet Sea Harmony took over from Lightspeed as the best of the rest while Lightspeed struggled with a recalcitrant furling headsail.

The expectation is that Zana will set a new record well inside the current record held by Hydroflow of 111hours 59 minutes 17 seconds established in the 2002 race.

Hydroflow however must be a favourite to see the Lindauer Purse of $20,000 uplifted for the first boat under 55 feet overall to finish in under four days (96 hours)

Positions on Sunday Morning


Boat , Position, Position, Distance, Distance, Average, Est Hours, ETA , Estimated
Name, Lat, Long, to Finish, Sailed, Speed, to Finish, or Actual Finish, Elapsed

Zana, 32.18, 173.38, 713, 278, 16.7, 42.71, 08/06/2004 01:22, 59.37

Bare Essentials, 33.39, 173.46, 785, 198, 11.9, 66.13, 09/06/2004 00:47, 82.79

Hydroflow, 33.45, 174.10, 800, 188, 11.3, 71.07, 09/06/2004 05:43, 87.73

Odysseus, 34.30, 174.20, 843, 142, 8.5, 98.97, 10/06/2004 09:38, 115.64

Sea Harmony, 34.33, 174.06, 840, 141, 8.5, 98.99, 10/06/2004 09:39, 115.66

Lightspeed, 34.36, 173.58, 839, 140, 8.4, 99.70, 10/06/2004 10:22, 116.37

Moonshadow, 34.45, 174.09, 851, 129, 7.7, 109.87, 10/06/2004 20:32, 126.54

Second Life, 34.46, 174.10, 853, 128, 7.7, 111.04, 10/06/2004 21:42, 127.71

Furioso, 34.48, 174.13, 856, 125, 7.5, 113.67, 11/06/2004 00:20, 130.34

Northern Rebel, 34.47, 174.22, 858, 125, 7.5, 114.52, 11/06/2004 01:11, 131.19

Young Ones, 34.52, 174.17, 861, 121, 7.2, 118.73, 11/06/2004 05:23, 135.40

General Jackson, 34.53, 174.13, 860, 121, 7.2, 118.85, 11/06/2004 05:31, 135.52

Island Girl, 34.58, 174.16, 865, 115, 6.9, 125.27, 11/06/2004 11:56, 141.94