Elliott 5.9: Preview of the upcoming Burnsco Traveller Series #3 at Whitianga.

by Gareth Howard - Elliot 5.9 Assoc 28 Jul 22:30 PDT

The Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series moves to the Coromandel coast over the weekend of 1–2 August, with the fleet descending on Whitianga for what promises to be two days of high-octane one-design racing.

Known for its sheltered waters, picturesque coastline, and reliable coastal breezes, Whitianga stands out as one of New Zealand's premier sailing venues. The location highlights one of the core strengths of the Elliott 5.9 class: the ease with which these high-performance, three-person trailer yachts can be towed to top-tier sailing destinations nationwide. This trailerable mobility allows the fleet to bring competitive one design racing to great locations, helping drive the class’s sustained success and strong fleet numbers season after season.

The overall series standings entering the regatta set up a high-stakes weekend on Mercury Bay. Revelry comes into Whitianga holding a handy overall lead courtesy of two stellar opening regattas. Their consistency in varying conditions has set the benchmark for the fleet, but with three regattas still left on the schedule, the title fight remains far from settled.

Just behind the leaders, the battle for second place overall is locked in a tight squeeze. Only three points separate Bloodline, Zoot Allures, Reggae Shark, and Dirty Circus. With three full regattas remaining, every boat in this chasing pack retains a realistic shot at launching a strike for the overall Traveller Series crown. Shapeshifter are also hoping to make it to Whitianga for this regatta. After missing the first event, they came back to secure a narrow win in the second regatta. If they are able to make the line and score another good result, they will jump right into overall contention thanks to the Traveller Series points system, which doesn't overly punish a boat for missing a single regatta.

Eyes will also be on Slam Dunk. While the crew suffered an uncharacteristic slump in form during the earlier rounds, a team of their caliber is unlikely to stay down for long. Slam Dunk will view the open courses and tactical challenges of Whitianga as the ideal launching pad to regain their rhythm and jump straight back into title contention.

Sailing instructions and regatta info, including details on the social events based at the new Buffalo Beach Front Club on Whitianga's foreshore, are all available on the class website.

With short-course windward-leeward racing on the menu and minimal point margins across the entire fleet, every start and tactical mark rounding in Whitianga will carry heavy consequences for the overall leaderboard. Racing kicks off Saturday morning, August 1st.