One Bay of Islands Sailing Week article has always stuck with me. Its title began with the words “Sex before marriage”, an article about the Magic 25 boat Team Sex, and a cheeky turn of phrase that captured both sportsboats and the personalities drawn to them. Memorable, and firmly aligned with the sharper edge of the regatta.
That edge is very much present again in 2026. The Sportsboat division returns deep, competitive, and unusually open, with no clear standout and the title very much up for grabs.
Ten yachts from the 2025 fleet are back on the start line, bringing continuity and hard-earned experience rather than a dominant favourite. Leading the returnees is Daisy Duke, runner up overall last year, joined by Orange Peeler (third), Weapon of Choice (sixth), W8 Up (seventh), Magic Dragon (eighth), Team Sex (ninth), Enigma (tenth), Magic Trick (11th), Houdini (12th), and Cliff Hanger (13th).
What changes the equation is the absence of 2025 line honours winner Angry Dragon, sailed by Tom and Richard Kiff. Having won every fleet race last season, Angry Dragon has yet to enter for 2026, removing a controlling force and opening the door to a far more contested series.
Results from 2025 underline just how close this fleet has become. Daisy Duke finished second overall on 22 points with consistent seconds and thirds, while Orange Peeler followed in third on 26, regularly finishing inside the top four. Weapon of Choice placed sixth on 52 points, with W8 Up close behind on 56. The mid fleet was tightly packed, with Magic Dragon (57), Team Sex (67), and Enigma (71) separated by narrow margins, while Magic Trick, Houdini, and Cliff Hanger rounded out the order.
A notable addition for 2026 is Ghost Rider, a Bieker 650 skippered by well-known Kiwi sailor Phil Jameson. Designed by Paul Bieker specifically for Jameson, Ghost Rider brings both pedigree and purpose. With Jameson’s Volvo Ocean Race background and a design focused on efficiency and speed, the boat has the potential to be a genuine factor if conditions line up.
The fleet again includes three Shaw designs: Daisy Duke, the Shaw 7 skippered by Matt Gottard; Orange Peeler, skippered by Grant McInnes; and Magic Trick, Eric Osborne’s Shaw 650. Last season, Daisy Duke consistently held the upper hand over her Shaw rivals, finishing ahead of Orange Peeler in most races, while Magic Trick operated in a different performance bracket.
Phil Houghton returns with Weapon of Choice, his Houghton Dibley 7.5 developed in collaboration with designer Kevin Dibley. Full carbon and trailerable, the boat has been steadily refined through rig, sail, and layout development and remains a benchmark for performance at a sensible cost.
Rounding out the division are six Magic 25s: Cliff Hanger, Enigma, Houdini, Magic Dragon, Team Sex, and W8 Up. The one design class remains tightly matched, with Magic Dragon the strongest of the group in 2025. Close starts, fast manoeuvres, and races decided by seconds continue to define Magic 25 racing.
Momentum from the March 2025 Magic Championship Regatta carries directly into the new season, where consistency again proved more valuable than outright pace.
With variable Bay of Islands conditions and short course formats, the Sportsboat Division at Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2026 is likely to reward clean scorelines, steady finishes, and smart decisions. Without last season’s dominant force, the series is genuinely wide open.
Learn more:
- Boating New Zealand boat review: Dibley 7.5m Sportsboat / Weapon of Choice
- Bay of Island’s Sailing Week / Sex before marriage for Magic 25 owner Anne Hirst
- Bieker 650 ‘Ghost Rider’
