NZLYT Auckland Suva Race first boats home

by Milika Marshall, Vuda Point Marina on 7 Jun 2006 The leading boats had northeasterly winds of about 12 knots, and finished at 10.36am, this morning.

Tomodachi was first home, followed by Tance at 11.04am. At the morning sked, Kaitorete was next on the water 129 miles from the finish, with Quintessence seven miles further back.

Race Director, Fendall Halliburton told Sail-World from Fiji at 1730hrs today, that the first two yachts had avoided the bad weather that had affected the others in their division and all of the Premier fleet.

The first of the Premier entries is expected on Thursday, winds are now light at 10-12 knots and it is expected to be a close-run contest between the Elliot 50 Sportivo and the Cookson 50 Pussy Galore. While Pussy Galore would seem to have an edge there is a very keen contingent aboard Sportivo from North Sails, who may well be out to prove a point.

Certainly Pussy Galore skipper, Anatole Masfen, has campaigned her extensively in preparation for this event and the Hahn Hamilton Island circuit.

Bullrush would have been a prime contender for PHRF honours had she not had problems with her mainsail slides breaking, costing valuable time while repairs were effected.

Ron Brittain has lived up to his reputation catching a fish every day (almost), and one of the rules of his division is that the time is reduced by a minute for every kilo of fish caught!

Truxton, the 10.5 metre Tiller design elected to withdraw afetr a crew member suffered seasickness. Skipper David Tiller told Sail-World that they were sailing in 40knot winds and confused and 'just starting to hit their straps' when the decision to turn back had to be made. They had been sailing for 24 hours and were about 100 miles off Cape Brett. 'We had a lovely ride back,' was the closing comment!

Earlier report and positions:

The excitement is mounting here especially among the Fijians (who are very passionate about this event) as the first boat Tomodachi is expected to cross the finish line at Navula Light at 10:45 today, Wednesday. In hot pursuit but just unable to catch Tomodachi is Trance who is just 45 minutes behind - this is after seven days at sea.

Both these boats are competing at the Bula division and both have been motoring - final places will be calculated once the motoring times and miles are known.

Thursday will see another five boats arriving - importantly Hotshot at dawn on Thursday - this is the first boat in the Corinithian division - ie sailed all the way. Hotshot is over 24 hours ahead of Wright One the next Corinithian boat.

Pussy Galore is at this stage expected to be the fastest boat on elapsed time. Her expected time of arrival is 1am on Friday morning - a huge champagne welcome is planned for their arrival at the Vuda Point Marina.

NZL Yachting Trust 2006 Auckland-Fiji Race - Boats' Positions

Boats in the Premier Division are only shown after the morning sched on Sunday 4 June.

A Southern Man AGD and Truxton have withdrawn.

Boats' positions at Wed 07 Jun 2006 06:40

Name	Lat	Long	Covered	To Finish	ETA
Archon	21°42'S	177°36'E	921	227	Thu 08 Jun 22:17
Aurora Lights	22°28'S	178°21'E	883	280	Fri 09 Jun 09:32
Bullrush	25°57'S	176°06'E	658	485	Sat 10 Jun 00:05
Drina	27°34'S	175°36'E	559	585	Sun 11 Jun 03:31
Hot Shot	20°27'S	177°16'E	993	151	Thu 08 Jun 07:07
Kaitorete	20°05'S	177°03'E	1013	129	Thu 08 Jun 03:11
Lady Mink	22°57'S	177°05'E	843	301	Fri 09 Jun 16:06
Lion New Zealand	25°37'S	176°32'E	680	463	Fri 09 Jun 19:00
Maeva	21°18'S	177°23'E	943	202	Thu 08 Jun 17:08
Pussy Galore	24°09'S	176°58'E	771	374	Fri 09 Jun 01:38
Quintessence	20°12'S	177°17'E	1008	136	Thu 08 Jun 04:22
Skiddy Too	27°33'S	175°37'E	560	584	Sun 11 Jun 03:10
Sportivo	24°22'S	176°39'E	755	388	Fri 09 Jun 04:09
Tomodachi	18°24'S	177°08'E	1114	28	Wed 07 Jun 10:45
Touchstone	27°31'S	175°55'E	563	580	Sun 11 Jun 01:57
Trance	18°29'S	177°07'E	1109	34	Wed 07 Jun 11:31
Uncle Arthur	23°54'S	177°59'E	794	361	Sat 10 Jun 07:37
Wild Card	25°45'S	178°08'E	688	472	Fri 09 Jun 19:32
Wright One	22°35'S	177°17'E	866	279	Fri 09 Jun 10:27

 

NZL Yachting Trust 2006 Auckland-Fiji Race - Average Speeds

 

Name	Last 12 hours	Last 24 hours	Since start
Archon	37nm at 3.1kt	101nm at 4.2kt	921nm at 5.7kt
Aurora Lights	62nm at 5.2kt	137nm at 5.7kt	883nm at 5.5kt
Bullrush	117nm at 9.8kt	157nm at 6.5kt	658nm at 7.4kt
Drina	75nm at 6.3kt	139nm at 5.8kt	559nm at 6.3kt
Hot Shot	76nm at 6.3kt	151nm at 6.3kt	993nm at 6.2kt
Kaitorete	76nm at 6.3kt	145nm at 6.0kt	1013nm at 6.3kt
Lady Mink	56nm at 4.7kt	115nm at 4.8kt	843nm at 5.2kt
Lion New Zealand	79nm at 6.6kt	156nm at 6.5kt	680nm at 7.7kt
Maeva	65nm at 5.4kt		943nm at 5.9kt
Pussy Galore	95nm at 7.9kt	144nm at 6.0kt	771nm at 8.7kt
Quintessence	81nm at 6.8kt	151nm at 6.3kt	1008nm at 6.3kt
Skiddy Too	76nm at 6.3kt	148nm at 6.2kt	560nm at 6.3kt
Sportivo	90nm at 7.5kt		755nm at 8.5kt
Tomodachi	90nm at 7.5kt	170nm at 7.1kt	1114nm at 6.9kt
Touchstone	77nm at 6.4kt	144nm at 6.0kt	563nm at 6.3kt
Trance	95nm at 7.9kt	181nm at 7.5kt	1109nm at 6.9kt
Uncle Arthur	45nm at 3.8kt	79nm at 3.3kt	794nm at 4.9kt
Wild Card	80nm at 6.7kt	149nm at 6.2kt	688nm at 7.8kt
Wright One	61nm at 5.1kt	108nm at 4.5kt	866nm at 5.4kt