2026 P Class Wihau Shield concludes at Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club
by Gary Smith 13 Oct 19:34 NZDT
10-11 October 2026
27 boats arrived to a light Saturday morning at Tauranga for the running of the 2026 Wihau Shield. The event is the last remaining of NZ's swap boat series raced since 1942.
The first day is spent fleet racing and the on the second day the top five boats sail a swap boat series, where everyone sails everyone s else's boat for the Wihau Shield, and the remainder of the fleet sailed for the Secretary's Cup.
Saturday's sailing reflected the light and variable conditions on the Tauranga harbour. With 4 different winners and everyone having a go at the bottom of the fleet too.
Sunday morning and a little 6 knot northerly built to a 12 to 14knot NE as the event drew on. The Wihau Shield boats had the first start and the fleet was often overlapped going into the last mark. Zofia Wells (P888) has laid down the challenge to the P Class fleet for the 2027 P Class Nationals. Having finished second in last year's Wihau Shield and then won the 2026 Tanner Cup, she went one better this year and won the Wihau Shield. Another first girl win on a NZ sailing Trophy! On countback was Luca Blundell (P899) followed by Will Handley (P373), Micah Bollen (P30) and Ally Burfoot(P154).
The Secretary's Cup had a clear win by Lewis Snape (P345) on 23 points while only 3 points separated 2nd to 4th. 2nd Blake Duncan (P281), 3rd Hugh Kensington (P3).
Zofia was stoked to lift the Trophy to claim the Wihau Shield.
Secretaries Cup 2026 Results:
| Pos | Sail | Helm | Boat | YNZ Affiliated YC | R1 101026 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 345 | Lewis Snape | Impulse | Kohimarama Yacht Club | 1 | 10 | (18) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 41 |
| 2nd | 281 | Blake Duncan | Don't Tell Mum | Napier Sailing Club | (19) | 3 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 65 |
| 3rd | 3 | Hugh Kensington | Eazy Peazy | Kohimarama Yacht Club | 3 | 11 | (16) | 10 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 64 |
| 4th | 49 | Flora Stevens | wReckless | Royal Akarana Yacht Club, Glendowie Boat | 15 | 9 | (19) | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 68 |
| 5th | 989 | Noah Petersen | Bullet | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | 14 | 2 | 9 | (16) | 10 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 65 |
| 6th | 308 | Theo Dacre | Trampus | Napier Sailing Club | 11 | (16) | 2 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 70 |
| 7th | 5 | Annika Wells | Stacatto | Glendowie Boating Club | (9) | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 63 |
| 8th | 474 | Hudson Halla | Full Boar | Kohimarama Yacht Club | 7 | 4 | 13 | (17) | 5 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 74 |
| 9th | 32 | Amiya Kattera | Perfect | Glendowie Boating Club | (20) | 12 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 82 |
| 10th | 933 | James Garnham | Diversion | Murrays Bay Sailing Club/Wakatere Boatin | 13 | (14) | 7 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 83 |
| 11th | 69 | Milla Holland | Mintie | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | 8 | 18 | 15 | (21) | 7 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 96 |
| 12th | 942 | Harry Strang | x-rated | Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club | 2 | 20 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 12 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 107 |
| 13th | 888 | Zofia Wells | Pieces of Eight | Glendowie Boating Club | 6 | 5 | 8 | 3 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 114 |
| 14th | 147 | Tyler Campbell | Blank Cheque | Whangarei Cruising Club | 12 | (17) | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 108 |
| 15th | 154 | Ally Burfoot | F Peets Sake | Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club | 10 | 1 | 5 | 7 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 115 |
| 16th | 98 | Charlie Haxton | Frenzy | Bucklands Beach Yacht Club | 16 | 13 | (20) | 19 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 113 |
| 17th | 899 | Luca Blundell | Fallout | Charteris Bay Yacht Club/Kohimarama YC | 5 | 19 | 1 | 1 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 118 |
| 18th | 373 | Will Handley | Crystal Meth | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | 4 | 6 | 14 | 2 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 118 |
| 19th | 171 | Asha Satterthwaite | Battle Cry | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | (17) | 15 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 114 |
| 20th | 30 | Micah Bollen | Ninja | Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club | 18 | 7 | 3 | 4 | (23 DNC) | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 23 DNC | 124 |
| 21st | 977 | Zac Loader | Just in Time | Napier Sailing Club | (23 UFD) | 21 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 143 |
| 22nd | 156 | Scotty Dawson | Say What | Hamilton Yacht Club | 21 | (22) | 22 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 152 |