The fleet powered into the first evening of the Three Kings Offshore Race surfing up the east coast of the North Island in spectacular fashion. It was pretty fast and fun, quite physical, and already jam packed with stories.
Here is the latest from the fleet, from their first scheduled report in at 1900 hours on Thursday 16 April, eight hours after the start, and this morning at 0700 (Friday 17 April).
Thursday PM Update – 1900 hrs
Early pace-setters like Clockwork, Motorboat III, and Mr Kite II and Equilibrium were clearly settling into the race rhythm, making the most of a solid northerly flow up the coast. All four of these yachts were ahead of the 2022 race record set by Wired.
Clockwork summed up the mood best – quick enough to catch sunset at Cape Brett, with spirits high on board despite some questionable packing decisions (not everyone brought enough undies, apparently). The whole crew forgot to pack their snorkels describing how wet the send north was. It was a lively, upbeat start for the crew.
On Mr Kite II, the tone was equally positive. The crew reported a great day on the water, lighter conditions beginning to creep in, and importantly, the “restaurant” had been open – always a good sign early in an offshore race.
For others, it hadn’t all been smooth sailing.
Equilibrium had one of the tougher afternoons. After hitting speeds up to 20 knots, they were forced to deal with gear failures, destroying their C0 near Tiri and breaking their reaching strut. Despite that, they were still pushing north in solid breeze and good sea state, with the crew in good spirits and enjoying the ride.
Carpe Diem also had their hands full with sail repairs, tearing their A5 and recovering a shredded Zero in multiple pieces. Even so, the mood remained steady on board, with pizza on the menu and no major drama beyond the gear issues.
Motorboat III delivered one of the more detailed accounts of the opening leg. A strong start under A4 quickly turned tactical, with sail changes coming thick and fast through the inner gulf. They opted for a slightly more conservative route at times, staying safe rather than pushing too hard inshore. By evening, they were settled into a fast reach north, describing it as one of the best rides up the coast — even as the breeze began to ease.
On Higher Ground the crew described the first 8 hours of yachting as “great”. They had speeds of up to 16-17 knots and were surfing the sea state. They also learnt the hard way that kite sheets work better when attached to the sail!
Across the fleet, Thursday evening was defined by good sends. At nightfall, crews were fully in offshore mode and charging north.
Friday AM Update – 0700 hrs
By Friday morning, the race had shifted gears, and the dreams of breaking the race record were slowly taken away.
The breeze eased overnight, and what started as a high-speed charge turned into a much more relaxed, and at times frustratingly slow passage north toward the Three Kings.
Several crews described it as a “glamour night” offshore, but also incredibly dark, with perfect star gazing conditions.
Mr Kite II kept it simple: a beautiful night, everyone happy.
Clockwork echoed that sentiment, calling it champagne sailing under sunrise skies but with a clear awareness that lighter conditions could become a factor as the day unfolded.
On Equilibrium, the change was stark. After the earlier power sailing, they were now drifting along in very light airs. Still, the mood remained positive after a pleasant night, flat water, clear skies, and a crew enjoying the contrast, even while anticipating a tricky few hours ahead.
Motorboat III also leaned into the magic of the night, highlighting the incredible stargazing and calm conditions, a very different feel from the earlier high-speed leg.
Akonga reported a similarly stunning night, complete with dolphin escorts and calm seas. With the boat now off the northern coast, the focus had shifted to the simple pleasures including a solid breakfast of coffee, muesli, yoghurt, and blueberries.
Meanwhile, Higher Ground kept things characteristically lively on board, joking about getting the game rods ready for the Three Kings Islands because the area is much better know as a fishing location than a turning mark of a yacht race!
Carpe Diem described a calm, uneventful night and acknowledged the drop in speed, though not quite as slow as the trackers might suggest.
Race Feel After (Almost 24) Hours
Thursday: Sendy, physical, gear-testing conditions yet epic conditions and a great way to start the 490nm race up the coast
Friday morning: Light, scenic, and tactical and the whole fleet is set to round the Three Kings Islands in daylight
The race has already delivered a bit of everything and is now setting up for a fascinating next phase as the fleet works toward the Three Kings.
