The first night
If the first night of the Three Kings Offshore had a theme, it was glamour. Not the red carpet kind. The kind you only get offshore at night, when the stars are out, the boat is moving, and the only thing on your mind is what’s for breakfast.
Stars, sails and something on the stove — the Three Kings fleet checks in the AM on Fri 17
24 Hour FLEET UPDATE
All seven boats racing at 24 hours, Clockwork leads but the handicap race is tightening. Wet, fast sailing as the fleet closes on the Three Kings Islands.
Wet, fast and a long way from home — the Three Kings fleet at 24 hours
Race Tracker update
Carpe Diem: Tracker likely has water ingress – fried battery. No fix. YB will update the positions using AIS data as often as they can.
On-board report — Motorboat III
Reporting in off Cape Rodney. One reef in, furled headsail. Clockwork, Equilibrium and Mr Kite II have pulled away. “We are on our bike — happy days.”
Race start
Race away on time. Motorboat III first off the line with a stunning start. Clockwork flying behind and moving through quickly. Fleet splits into two groups within minutes.
Pre-race
Ten minutes before the start an orca fin broke the surface less than 100 metres from the start line, right in the path of the fleet. It drew plenty of attention but proved no obstacle.
Fleet assembled
All seven boats on the water. Akonga last to arrive, right on the 10:30 deadline. Conditions windy as expected, nor’easterly pushing with intent. Swells nudging a metre at the start line.
PRE-RACE BRIEFING
Before the race started, we were at the RNZYS for the skippers’ briefing. Read what the fleet was thinking the night before.
FLEET INTRO
From offshore thoroughbreds to proven bluewater cruisers, here is the fleet chasing the Three Kings.
North to the Three Kings: where Ākonga’s Hobart campaign starts
Equilibrium heads to Three Kings again, the skipper is the oldest in the fleet!
Déjà vu for Motorboat III as she heads back to the Three Kings (with a different name!)
THREE KINGS OFFSHORE YACHT RACE INTRO
From Auckland to the top of New Zealand and back. The Three Kings Offshore is 500 nautical miles of open ocean, organised by the RNZYS.
Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race 2026 nears start with fleet taking shape
Sailing the edge of New Zealand: the Three Kings offshore yacht race
Update pending
Next update to follow.
