Doyle Sails Round North Island: Explore Racing first into Mangonui

Vixen Racing - 2026 Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Yacht Race © SSANZ

The 2026 Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Yacht Race came to life this weekend with a thrilling opening leg from Victoria Wharf Devonport to Mangonui.

A fleet of 26 two-handed crews set a brisk pace up the east coast, delivering tight competition across all divisions in the 154-nautical-mile coastal reach.

Leading the charge across the Mangonui finish line was the Elliott 50 Explore Racing, co-skippered by William Goodfellow and Jesse Turner. The pair secured line honours with a provisional elapsed time of 14 hours 47 minutes 38 seconds, marking one of the fastest recorded performances on this opening leg in recent editions of the event.

However, when corrected under PHRF handicap, it was the formidable Thompson 1150 Motorboat III, sailed by Damon Jolliffe and Josh Tucker, that claimed provisional overall honours. The duo crossed later in the early hours of Sunday but corrected to a winning 14 hours 52 minutes 24 seconds, earning them top honours for Leg 1.

Division highlights

• In Division 2, the Elliott 10.50 Motorboat 2, skippered by Alan Quere and Vincent Trinquet, posted an excellent performance to take both line and corrected honours in their class.

• Division 3 saw a standout effort from Ragnar, the Sunfast 3300 helmed by Brett Elliott and James Glidden. Ragnar finished fifth on line overall but led Division 3 and sits just over 17 minutes behind the overall handicap leader. Indis, another Sunfast 3300, trails closely, setting up an intense intra-division rivalry.

• In Division 4, the Ross 930 Hotdogger, skippered by Nigel Bish and Sinisa Grujicic, capitalised on consistent speed and tactical acumen to record first on corrected time in their class, edging out fellow Ross 930 Start Me Up by nearly 30 minutes.

The first leg’s results from four competitive divisions underlined the depth of talent and strategic nous in shorthanded offshore racing, with crews pushed by a mix of steady breezes and lively sea states.

Retirement and next leg details

One retirement was recorded on Leg 1, with Akonga diverting to Marsden Cove for repairs after gear issues forced the crew to withdraw. Akonga is now fixed and the crew is sailing her north to join the rest of the fleet at Mangonui.

Leg 2 starts at 9.00am Monday 2 March and will see the fleet tackle the longer 476-nautical-mile passage from Mangonui to Waikawa at the top of the South Island.

About the Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Yacht Race

Presented by naming rights sponsor Doyle Sails and organised by the Short Handed Sailing Association of New Zealand, the 2026 Round North Island Two Handed Race runs from 28 February to 15 March. Supporters of the event include the NZL Sailing Foundation, Henri Lloyd Australia & New Zealand, The Chandlery, and Sea Lovers Gin.

For live tracking, and race results for the event, visit the race website www.ssanz.co.nz/round-north-island-2026 or follow Short Handed Sailing Association of New Zealand social channels