Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit: Eagle wins Round 2 in Nelson

by Gareth Howard - Elliott 5.9 Association 23 Jan 23:45 PST

The Nautilus Braids Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit #2 concluded at the Tasman Bay Cruising Club, delivering a weekend of intense, high-stakes Elliott5.9 one-design racing.

The regatta was marked by a wide range of conditions that tested the fleet and outstanding hospitality from the local club, Tasman Bay Cruising Club.

Day 1: Precision and Patience

The opening day presented a challenge with very light air, consistently remaining below 5 knots. These conditions made starting particularly tricky, as crews struggled to find clean lanes and maintain momentum in the marginal breeze. Despite the light air, the racing remained incredibly tight, with the entire fleet mixing it up across the course.

Day 2: "Snakes and Ladders"

Day 2 saw a dramatic shift in conditions as a gusty Southeast breeze took over. Wind speeds ranged from 10–15 knots, frequently punching up to 20 knots, creating a "snakes and ladders" scenario where tactical positioning was critical. The day also featured a dramatic "shutdown" of the breeze during one race, further testing the nerves.

The final standings reflect how hard-fought the points were across the series (with one discard):

• 1st: Eagle (8 pts) – Consistency allowed Eagle to take the overall win, finishing no lower than 2nd in all scoring races.
• 2nd: Boat 1 (12 pts) – A strong performance including three race wins was slightly hampered by a 4th and a 3rd place, securing a solid silver.
• 3rd: Techno (16 pts) – Consistent podium finishes kept Techno in the hunt, ultimately securing the final podium spot.
• 4th: Retro (21 pts) – Showed strong pace throughout the weekend, particularly in the heavier air of Day 2.
• 5th & 6th: Chop & Spurt (30 pts each) – These two boats were locked in a tie-break battle for much of the regatta, highlighting how close the mid-fleet racing was.
• 7th: Erotic – Rounded out the competitive seven-boat fleet.

The Tasman Bay Cruising Club proved to be an exceptional host, providing both a challenging race track and fantastic hospitality. With the Southern Circuit now in full swing, the fleet looks forward to the next round with several teams showing they have the pace to challenge the podium.

Results can be found here elliott59.weebly.com/results.html Follow results and pictures online www.facebook.com/elliott5.9 and for more information on the Elliott 5.9 Class Association visit www.e59.org.nz

About The Elliott 5.9 The Elliott 5.9 emerged in the early 1980’s as a high-performing trailer yacht and continues to deliver competitive one-design racing in a welcoming fleet of world-class sailors and novices alike. The boats started a revolution with their well-balanced and cost-effective design, and quickly became the boat of choice for top club training schemes and a breeding ground for NZ’s America’s Cup, Ocean Race and Olympic champions. Sailed by a crew of three, the Elliott 5.9 remains a low-maintenance sailboat with an efficient single spreader fractional rig, a well-balanced sail plan and a practical deck layout. Whether sailing among mixed trailer yachts, sport boat fleets or in a one design setting, the 5.9 is celebrated for its responsiveness and outstanding value.