In the Millennium Cup class, anticipation was high as the first race commenced at 11:00. The fleet embarked on an 18.32-nautical-mile course that wound its way around Bowlands Rock and Shearer Rock before returning to the start. The staggered start sequence saw Sea Eagle, Kawil, Janice of Wyoming, Sassafras, and Sharlou lead the charge, with the Pacific Cup class following five minutes later. The race quickly developed into a showcase of both power and precision. Sharlou surged ahead, claiming line honours with an impressive elapsed time of 2 hours and 25 minutes. However, corrected time reshuffled the standings, with Sea Eagle emerging victorious, her adjusted time of 2 hours and 7 minutes securing her the win. Sassafras followed closely behind, while Kawil’s strong performance earned her third place. The ever-elegant Sharlou, despite her blistering speed, found herself in fourth on corrected time, while Janice of Wyoming rounded out the fleet.
The afternoon brought a contrasting challenge: a tight, 7.68-nautical-mile sprint that emphasised acceleration and quick sail handling. Sharlou once again proved her speed, finishing in just one hour. Yet the corrected time results told a different story. Kawil, leveraging her tactical nous, secured the win with a corrected time of 52 minutes, followed by Sea Eagle in second. Sassafras, Sharlou, and Janice of Wyoming completed the race in that order. With two races in the books, the leaderboard saw Sea Eagle taking the top spot with 3 points, followed by Kawil with 4, Sassafras with 5, and Sharlou, despite her raw speed, trailing in fourth with 8 points. Janice of Wyoming found herself in fifth place, setting up an intriguing battle for the coming days.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific Cup class, the competition was no less fierce. The first race followed the same 18.32-nautical-mile course, where Steinlager 2, the legendary Whitbread veteran, claimed line honours with an elapsed time of 3 hours and 17 minutes. But the power of handicapping was on full display, as Hikurere, sailing a composed and efficient race, secured first place on corrected time with 3 hours and 19 minutes. Lion New Zealand, another storied campaigner, came second, followed by Innismara. Steinlager 2, despite her impressive outright speed, was relegated to fourth, while Kinetic rounded out the field.
As the Pacific Cup class prepared for their own second race, a shorter, more dynamic course promised an entirely different kind of contest. Hikurere thrived under the pressure, securing both line honours and a corrected-time victory in 1 hour and 12 minutes. Lion New Zealand put in another strong showing, taking second place, while Innismara, Steinlager 2, and Kinetic battled to the finish. At the close of Day 1, Hikurere stood firmly atop the leaderboard with a perfect score of 2 points, Lion New Zealand followed in second with 4, while Innismara, Steinlager 2, and Kinetic settled into a competitive mid-to-lower order.
The results of the first day reinforce a fundamental truth about regattas: speed alone does not determine the victor. Handicaps and corrected times introduce a layer of strategy that ensures every yacht remains in contention. Sharlou and Steinlager 2 may have surged ahead in raw time, but the precision and consistency of Sea Eagle and Hikurere were what secured their top positions. With two more days of racing ahead, the battle remains wide open, and adjustments in tactics, weather shifts, and moments of brilliance could still reshape the leaderboard.
As the fleet docks for the evening, skippers and tacticians will analyse the day’s performance, fine-tuning their approach for the races to come. Tomorrow is likely to bring a different course on which to sail. The 2025 Millennium Cup is far from decided, but if Day 1 has set the tone, the days ahead promise an exciting regatta filled with strategy, high speeds, and the timeless beauty of sailing on some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking waters.
