Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series #2: 12 expected to line up in Marsden Cove

A 12-boat very competitive fleet is expected for Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series #2 - Marsden Cove - June 13-14, 2026 © Elliott 5.9 Assoc

The Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series moves north next weekend for Event #2, with the fleet assembling at Marsden Cove Marina over 13 - 14 June.

The fleet will see a nice addition of numbers since the opening round at Lake Rotoiti, with potentially 12 boats lining up on the start line. Racing will take place on the excellent open waters of Bream Bay, offering wide-open tactical options and clean racing.

Class president Stu Clarke notes that the association is in a fantastic position heading into the winter events.

"The class is in really good heart," Clarke says. "We have got another good turnout on the cards for Marsden Cove and it's another really competitive fleet. The secret seems to be the one design racing with a fun social side and we can travel to really cool sailing locations."

A major highlight for this regatta is the expected return of Shapeshifter and R&R, who both had to miss the Rotoiti event. This sets up an exciting replay of the highly competitive National Championships held earlier this year, where Shapeshifter ultimately took the national title ahead of Revelry and R&R. It will also be great to see the return of Northland-based boat, Frivolous Fish, adding further local depth to the line-up.

A 12-boat very competitive fleet is expected for Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series #2 - Marsden Cove - June 13-14, 2026 - photo © Elliott 5.9 Assoc

Adding an extra layer of intrigue to the weekend, several of the top-tier teams are sporting potential skipper and crew changes since they last faced each other. With new combinations onboard the big three—Shapeshifter, R&R, and Revelry—the dynamic at the front of the fleet could change.

Despite the potential changes, Revelry remains the form boat to beat heading into the weekend. Following their standout performance at the Nationals and a strong showing at Lake Rotoiti in May, they have firmly established themselves as the benchmark for the fleet.

However, they will face a heavily stacked field. Reggae Shark will look to follow up their strong performance at Rotoiti, which marked a fantastic return to the fleet after more than 12 months away. Slam Dunk will be looking forward to the likely consistent conditions of Bream Bay to re-establish themselves at the front of the fleet, while Razorback will aim to build on their continued improvement.

Local favourites Zoot Allures will also be a major threat. Sailing on their home waters, the crew will be looking for another strong performance this year after securing a very impressive second overall at this venue last season.

With consistent podium contenders like Bloodline and Dirty Circus also on the grid, alongside the likes of NYX and the Class Act youth development boat, the racing promises to be exceptionally close throughout the entire 12-boat fleet.

Clarke highlights that this high standard of racing is part of a broader trend for the owners.

"The class continues to attract top national and world class sailors. They are great to compete against and they share their expertise so we see this continued development right across the fleet that just continues to strengthen the class."

For those looking to enter the fleet, current market conditions are presenting a rare window of opportunity.

"We are in the unique situation at the moment that there are a couple of really well set up boats for sale at a good competitive price," Clarke adds. "We don't normally have many boats on the market so it's an awesome time for someone to pick up a boat if they want to join the Elliott 5.9 action."

Off the water, the class has an excellent social schedule lined up for the weekend. The fleet will gather at the Marsden Cove Fishing Club on Friday night, providing a great opportunity to catch up before racing begins. On Saturday night, crews will head to the Porthouse Bar & Eatery for a meal and to catch the high-stakes Super Rugby Semifinal action.

Up to 10 windward-leeward races are scheduled across the two days. With a large fleet on Bream Bay, clean starts and smart tactical execution will be vital to securing a consistent scorecard.

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 Previous results can be found here elliott59.weebly.com/results.html

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.