Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit: High stakes as fleet heads to Nelson
by Gareth Howard - Elliott 5.9 Association 13 Jan 09:02 AEDT
Elliott 5.9 - Round 1 - Nautilus Braids Southern Circuit - Naval Point Yacht Club on Lyttleton Harbour - 29–30 November, 2025 © Three Twenty One Photography
The Nautilus Braids Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit continues this weekend, with the fleet descending on the sunshine capital to be hosted by the Tasman Bay Cruising Club as part of the prestigious Nelson Regatta Week, 17 - 18 January.
Seven Elliott 5.9s are currently confirmed for the start line, and the intensity is expected to lift significantly following the incredibly tight contest seen at Round 1 in Lyttleton last November. Rumors have been circulating of teams putting in extra hours on the water for training, while others have spent the break in the shed, fine-tuning their setups to find that elusive extra knot of speed.
While many expect the fierce rivalry between Boat 1 and Eagle to continue right where it left off in Lyttleton, the chasing pack is close. All boats have shown immense potential and will be looking to disrupt the leaders throughout the series.
Among the key boats to watch this weekend is Tekno. Currently sitting in third overall, Tekno arrives in Nelson in a strong position. They showed impressive form throughout the previous Southern Circuit series and have carried that momentum into the current season, with their consistency making them a major threat for a podium finish.
Retro, currently fourth overall, is a proven performer. They have the pace to mix it up at the front. With the standings so tight, a good showing in Nelson could easily see them leapfrog onto the podium.
Likewise, Erotic had a strong showing on the second day of the first round in the Southern Circuit, getting close to the podium on several occasions and proving they are a serious contender in the fleet.
Nelson is renowned for offering some of the best sailing in the South Island. The crews are eager to capitalize on the expected sea breezes for some exhilarating racing before heading back to the club to enjoy the legendary social atmosphere of Nelson Regatta Week.
Round 2 of the Nautilus Braids Southern Circuit is shaping up to be a defining event for the Southern Circuit trophy, with only one further round to go in February before the South Island Championship and the upcoming Nationals in Maraetai this March.