Doyle Sails Round North Island: Update from Leg 2

CU Later - 2026 Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Yacht Race - March 2, 2026 © SSANZ

Leg 2 of the Doyle Sails Two Handed Round North Island Race restarted from Mongonui, at 0900hrs on Monday and is headed for the second stopover in Waikawa, at the top of the South Island.

The 26 boat fleet are on the tough and longer 476-nautical-mile passage from Mangonui to Waikawa, after completing the first leg, an extended Coastal Classic from Auckland to Mongonui - just short of North Cape.

Currently the fleet is well spread off Ninety Mile beach off the West Coast of the North Island, battling rough conditions according to the updates below.

Only one boat has had to suspend racing on this leg.

Physical Favours briefly suspended racing last night to return to Splits Bay for some shelter to assess damage. Good news is after getting things sorted they have resumed racing this morning.

Here's the latest social media update from SSANZ on their social media.

On Line Honours, Explorer Racing would appear to be the lead boat, and is also well out in the Tasman Sea.

Comments from Monday night:

• Focus - Bumpy
• Catnip - All well. Just heating pies for dinner
• Indis - lots of potholes out here
• High 5 - bumpy seas out here, challenging. In good spirits, all is well aboard
• Niksen - fast start, now west coast crash bash. Not a lot of fun
• Highline - nasty sea state, bit of crash bang off short back waves - all well considering
• Hotdogger - bash bash bash. Crash bash splash. Nasty backless waves. 19-30knts. Too rough to cook.
• Akonga - great reaching up to top. Pretty bumpy out here but sun is out! 14kts
• Ragnar - going up wind breeze is starting to build. All going well so far.
• Start Me Up - pretty lumpy out here, making decent headway still
• Pipi - all well. Full main back up.

• Focus - poor boat doing this to it.
• Akonga - bumpy night with first attempts at sleep fitful but now getting some sleep. Breakfast will be healthy muesli, yogurt, and blackberrys with coffee to finish. Beautiful scenery around the top and good breeze around the top. Heading into the Tasman was a terrible sea state with wind against tide, backless waves and some rolling breakers occasionally. Once out too sea much better. Great to be in the mighty Tasman
• Highline - difficult night with a bit more bashing. We both got some sleep. Great to see Reinga in daylight for a change but the season after that not nice. All well on board
• Perfect storm - pretty heavy night but all well on board
• Start Me Up - through a rough and lumpy washing machine. Wind didn't peak as much as forecast. Slowly shaking out reefs, we'll see if the skippers can keep breakfast down. North cape was spectacular, glad to not be any later as the wind against tide was fast but uncomfortable. Pretty impressed with MB3's commitment to the inside line, looks like it's paid off.
• Kokomea- all well
• Ragnar - bumpy night. Not as much breeze as we through it might be, tricky to get a nice set up, great moon!
• General Lee - bumpy night in the Wild West coast but moderating all the time now.
• Motorboat 2 - the sea was rough this night. 26kts max wind speed. and now is really light.
• Higher ground - just beating to wind
• Kayimai- all is well on board. Great ride around cape Reinga. Looking forward to a hot breakfast shortly! Best wishes
• Hot dogger - pretty awe inspiring rounding three capes in daylight. Columbia banks is scary. First night on west coast quite uncomfortable. How much wood would a Ross boat chop if a Ross boat could chop wood?
• Carpe Diem - sorry bit late with this, email struggling, good night, good breeze and a bit cold. Excited for breakfast!
• Catnip - rounding the cape was like being in the Karori rip for 3 hours.
• High 5 - all is well aboard. Rounding was fresh but expected, nice to be in the Tasman for once
• Niksen - was the same as every rounding, reach across the top turn into a sh*tty southerly. Super messy sea
• Kick - we've got a bit on sorry

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.