RESULTS
| Pos | Boat | Skipper | Handicap | Dist sailed | 24h DMG | Finish time | Elapsed time | Corrected elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorboat III | Damon Jolliffe | 0.931 | 531 NM | 62 NM | 18 Apr 16:58 | 2d 5h 58m 20s | 2d 2h 14m 53s |
| 2 | Mr Kite II | Nathan Williams | 0.995 | 535 NM | 65 NM | 18 Apr 16:00 | 2d 5h 0m 43s | 2d 4h 44m 49s |
| 3 | Clockwork | Steve Mair | 1.030 | 546 NM | 230 NM | 18 Apr 14:38 | 2d 3h 38m 17s | 2d 5h 11m 14s |
| 4 | Equilibrium | Graham Matthews | 1.059 | 532 NM | 3 NM | 18 Apr 16:10 | 2d 5h 10m 56s | 2d 8h 19m 12s |
| 5 | Higher Ground | John Seely | 0.888 | 536 NM | 139 NM | 19 Apr 03:25 | 2d 16h 25m 20s | 2d 9h 12m 25s |
| 6 | Carpe Diem | Rowan Smith | 0.778 | 491 NM | 177 NM | 19 Apr 15:16 | 3d 4h 16m 2s | 2d 11h 20m 9s |
| 7 | Akonga | Nick Roberts | 0.833 | 517 NM | 151 NM | 19 Apr 14:52 | 3d 3h 52m 4s | 2d 15h 11m 52s |
| All times NZST. Results — refer to RNZYS for official results. Corrected elapsed = elapsed time × handicap factor. | ||||||||
| Pos | Boat | Skipper | Dist sailed | 24h DMG | Finish time | Elapsed time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clockwork | Steve Mair | 546 NM | 230 NM | 18 Apr 14:38 | 2d 3h 38m 17s |
| 2 | Mr Kite II | Nathan Williams | 535 NM | 65 NM | 18 Apr 16:00 | 2d 5h 0m 43s |
| 3 | Equilibrium | Graham Matthews | 532 NM | 3 NM | 18 Apr 16:10 | 2d 5h 10m 56s |
| 4 | Motorboat III | Damon Jolliffe | 531 NM | 62 NM | 18 Apr 16:58 | 2d 5h 58m 20s |
| 5 | Higher Ground | John Seely | 536 NM | 139 NM | 19 Apr 03:25 | 2d 16h 25m 20s |
| 6 | Akonga | Nick Roberts | 517 NM | 151 NM | 19 Apr 14:52 | 3d 3h 52m 4s |
| 7 | Carpe Diem | Rowan Smith | 491 NM | 177 NM | 19 Apr 15:16 | 3d 4h 16m 2s |
| All times NZST. Results — refer to RNZYS for official results. Clockwork set a new course record of 2d 3h 38m 17s, breaking the previous record set by Wired in 2022 by 4 minutes and 22 seconds. | ||||||
AKONGA CROSS THE LINE
Carpe Diem crossed the finish line at 15:16 on Sunday 19 April, last on line honours with an elapsed time of 3 days, 4 hours and 16 minutes, sailing 491 nautical miles. Rowan Smith’s Elliott 1060 finished just 24 minutes behind Akonga after more than 76 hours of racing, a tight finish between the two boats that had been match racing through the final miles home.
On PHRF handicap the story is far kinder. Carpe Diem‘s 0.778 rating, the lowest in the fleet, brings their corrected elapsed down to 2d 11h 20m 9s, placing them sixth on handicap ahead of Akonga. Last on the water, sixth on the corrected sheet. The great equaliser doing its work one final time.
Carpe Diem‘s race had its complications. Their YB Tracker was unreliable throughout, leaving the fleet and followers relying on AIS for position data. The corrected time gap to fifth-placed Higher Ground is just over 2 hours, to fourth-placed Equilibrium nearly 3 hours, and to the PHRF winner Motorboat III just under 9 hours on corrected time.
But Rowan Smith’s crew started, they sailed, and they finished. In a race that threw everything at this fleet over three days and more than 490 nautical miles, that counts for plenty. Every boat home. Every crew standing. That is the Three Kings Offshore.
AKONGA CROSS THE LINE
Ākonga crossed the finish line at 14:52 on Sunday 19 April, sixth on line honours with an elapsed time of 3 days, 3 hours and 52 minutes, sailing 517 nautical miles. Nick Roberts’ Dehler 41 finished nearly 11 hours after Higher Ground and just under 24 minutes ahead of Carpe Diem, who was still out on the water when this was written.
On PHRF handicap Akonga’s 0.833 rating places them seventh on corrected time with 2d 15h 11m 52s (but with Carpe Diem still to complete the race.) The rating was always going to make the handicap sheet a tough read for this crew.
But statistics tell only part of the Ākonga story. From the knockdown near Kawau Island on the second night, to the roller furler failure five miles from the Three Kings, to the beef and mozzarella pies and the dolphin escort and the shooting stars, Nick Roberts’ crew sailed every mile of this race with good humour and genuine grit. Sixth home. Every mile earned.
Biblical night at the Kings: Ākonga’s crew earns their stripes
MIDDAY UPDATE
Ākonga are 25 nautical miles from the finish line, currently passing Little Barrier Island and Kawau, heading for the Tiritiri Matangi gap. Nick Roberts’ crew are moving at 6.3 knots with an estimated finish of 15:41 on Sunday 19 April, which would give them a race time of just over 3 days and 4 hours.
Carpe Diem is close and Ākonga crew tell us they’ve been match racing with Carpe Diem as they make their way home.
MOTORBOAT III CROSSES THE LINE — WATCH
Damon Jolliffe and the Motorboat III crew cross the finish line at 16:58 on Saturday 18 April. Fourth on line honours, first on PHRF handicap. A remarkable result from a remarkable crew.
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EQUILIBRIUM FINISH — WATCH
Graham Matthews and the Equilibrium crew cross the finish line at 16:10 on Saturday 18 April. Third on line honours, just 10 minutes behind Mr Kite II after more than 53 hours of racing and 532 nautical miles. An extraordinary effort from a crew that gave everything.
HIGHER GROUND FINISHES
Higher Ground crossed the line at 03:27 this morning, finishing fifth on line honours with an elapsed time of 2d 16h 27m 23s. John Seely’s Ross 1066 sailed 530 nautical miles, completing the course nearly 11 hours after Motorboat III, 11 hours and 16 minutes after Equilibrium, 11 hours and 26 minutes after Mr Kite II, and just under 13 hours after record-breaker Clockwork.
On PHRF handicap the picture is more encouraging. Higher Ground‘s 0.888 rating brings their corrected elapsed down to 2d 9h 14m 14s, currently placing them fifth on handicap (with both Ākonga and Carpe Diem to finish). That puts them 7 hours behind Motorboat III‘s winning corrected time of 2d 2h 14m 53s, 4 hours and 29 minutes behind Mr Kite II, and just under 4 hours behind Clockwork. A smaller boat taking on a big fleet over 500 nautical miles. Higher Ground delivered.
HIGHER GROUND, ĀKONGA, Carpe diem
Higher Ground is closest to the finish line, sitting 47 nautical miles out and making good progress at 7.5 knots. At that pace John Seely’s Ross 1066 is estimated to cross around 3:18am on Sunday 19 April.
Ākonga is 102 nautical miles from the finish, tracking at 6.6 knots with an estimated arrival of 12:30pm on Sunday. Nick Roberts’ crew are 55 nautical miles behind Higher Ground.
Carpe Diem is the furthest back at 120 nautical miles from the finish, 18 nautical miles behind Ākonga, moving at 6.3 knots. Rowan Smith’s Elliott 1060 is estimated to cross around 4:06pm on Sunday, a finish that would put them well into a third day of racing.
The gaps between the back three are meaningful but not insurmountable. Higher Ground has a clear run to the line. Ākonga and Carpe Diem face a longer night, but both boats are moving and the finish is in sight.
MR KITE II CROSSES THE LINE – COMING IN HOT – WATCH
Nathan Williams and the Mr Kite II crew cross the finish line just west of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, completing the 500 nautical mile course in 2 days, 5 hours and 43 seconds. Second on line honours. Coming in hot, just as they promised.
CLOCKWORK CROSSES THE LINE – WATCH THE MOMENT HISTORY WAS MADE
Steve Mair and the Clockwork crew cross the finish line just east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Look at her go! Watch the moment it happened.
FINISH PHOTOS
Our photographer Roger Mills was at the finish line, just east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, patiently waiting as the four leading boats came home one by one. The remainder of the fleet arrives tomorrow. Head to our photo album to see the first four boats in the fleet arrive. More photos below of the start.
HIGHER GROUND, ĀKONGA AND CARPE DIEM
Higher Ground is up near Ruakaka, an estimated 62 nautical miles until the finish line. Currently they are expected to finish tomorrow at 3:31am. Behind are Ākonga and Carpe Diem.
MOTORBOAT III CROSSES THE LINE
Motorboat III finished fourth on line honours at 16:58, crossing 58 minutes after Clockwork‘s record-breaking run, 58 minutes after Mr Kite II, and 48 minutes after Equilibrium. Last of the front four to cross the line.
But on PHRF handicap Damon Jolliffe’s Thompson 1150 turns that around completely. A corrected elapsed of 2d 2h 15m 26s puts Motorboat III first on handicap, ahead of Mr Kite II by 2 hours and 29 minutes, ahead of Clockwork by 2 hours and 56 minutes, and ahead of Equilibrium by over 6 hours. Last of the front four home. So far first on handicap. The mast climb paid off.
EQUILIBRIUM CROSSES THE LINE
Equilibrium finished third on line honours at 16:10, just 10 minutes and 13 seconds behind Mr Kite II and 1 hour and 32 minutes after Clockwork, with an elapsed time of 2d 5h 10m 56s. On PHRF handicap their 1.059 rating, the heaviest in the fleet, places them fourth on corrected time at 2d 8h 19m 12s, over 3 hours behind Mr Kite II and nearly 3 hours behind Clockwork.
Motorboat III sits behind 5.2 nautical miles until the finish line.
MR KITE II CROSSES THE LINE
Mr Kite II crossed the line at 16:00, finishing 1 hour and 22 minutes behind Clockwork on line honours with an elapsed time of 2d 5h 0m 43s. On PHRF handicap the result flips. A corrected elapsed of 2d 4h 44m 49s puts Mr Kite II ahead of Clockwork’s 2d 5h 21m 32s by 36 minutes and 43 seconds. Nearly an hour and a half behind on the water, comfortably ahead on the handicap sheet.
Equilibrium hunted Mr Kite II most of the race and is close, very close, behind.
THE GAP WIDENS
The gap between Mr Kite II and Equilibrium is growing with every mile. Both boats are now parallel with Rangitoto Island, Mr Kite II just over 2 nautical miles ahead and pulling away at 13.7 knots. Equilibrium is giving chase at 11.1 knots but the deficit is widening. Mr Kite II looks to have about 15 minutes on them to the line.
A RACE WITHIN A RACE
There is but 2 nautical miles between Mr Kite II and Equilibrium, with Mr Kite II 0.5 knots faster at this moment. Equilibrium will need to pull one out of the bag to win this race within a race.
CLOCKWORK BREAK THE RECORD AND FINISH FIRST ON LINE
Clockwork has crossed first on line honours in the 2026 Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race.
Organisers indicate Clockwork crossed the line at 14:38 on Saturday 18 April, with a race time of 2 days, 3 hours, 38 minutes and 17 seconds. Did they break the record?
There was a time in this race when I didn’t think it would be possible. Clockwork finished at 14:38, Wired‘s record was 2d 3h 42m 39s. Clockwork‘s time is 2d 3h 38m 17s.
Clockwork broke the record by 4 minutes and 22 second.
Clockwork sailed north, rounded, and came straight back south. No detours, no gambles offshore, just a clean direct course and the speed to make it count. That is how you break a record.
On corrected time she is 2d 5h 21m 32s (TBC).
WILL CLOCKWORK BREAK THE RECORD TIME?
1.63 nautical miles from the finish line. 0.13 nautical miles off the race record. Clockwork is right on the edge of history.
Will she make it?
CLOCKWORK CLAWS BACK RECORD TIME
Clockwork is now parallel with the southern end of Rangitito but more importantly seems to be clawing back distance and time against the record set in 2022 by Wired. Currently the distance between the two is around 0.68 nautical miles.
CLOCKWORK NEARLY HOME
Clockwork is nearly home. Steve Mair’s Shaw 12 is approaching Rangitoto right now, 11 nautical miles from the finish line and expected to cross just before 3pm today. Nearly 52 hours of offshore racing, from the Waitemata to the Three Kings Islands and back. But this is not just about being first home. At the same point in 2022, Rob Bassett’s TP52 / Bakewell/White Wired was already halfway past Rangitoto. Clockwork is racing the clock as much as the fleet.
Twenty nautical miles back, Mr Kite II and Equilibrium are locked in their own battle, both sitting on 31 nautical miles to the finish. Mr Kite II is running the western line while Equilibrium is tracking about 3.6 nautical miles off the Kawau Island coastline. Two boats, same distance, very different routes. One of them will cross the line first. Neither will give an inch.
The finish line is calling.
MORNING REPORT
ALL BOATS NOW HEADING SOUTH
The entire fleet has now rounded the north west corner of North East Island and are heading down towards the finish line. Ākonga are little further ahead with Clockwork about 165 nautical miles away.
CARPE DIEM TURNS HOME
Carpe Diem rounds the top of Ōhau Island.
AKONGA TURNS HOME
Ākonga rounds the top of Ōhau Island. Behind sit Carpe Diem around 28 nautical miles away. But it has not been smooth sailing for Ākonga. Nick Roberts tells us:
“Was a tough night with a headsail swivel shackle failing 5 miles from North Cape. Meant we had to get no 1 on deck and go to storm jib for rounding Three Kings. Will need to go aloft today to retrieve headsail halyard and fix shackle. Once around Three Kings we had A2 up and then Code Zero. Expect to get a kite back up after North Cape. Spirits are high on board. Enjoyed breakfast together in the cockpit surging down waves and being warmed in the sun. Breakfast was muesli, yoghurt and berries again washed down with coffee. More Reuben sandwiches for lunch and beef rendang for dinner.”
HIGHER GROUND TURNS HOME
Higher Ground rounds the top of Ōhau Island. Behind sit Ākonga about 20 nautical miles away.
MOTORBOAT III TURNS HOME
Forty minutes after Equilibrium rounds the top of Ōhau Island, Motorboat III follows. Behind them the gap to Higher Ground is around 52 nautical miles. Ahead Mr Kite II has turned south.
EQUILIBRIUM TURNS HOME
Equilibrium has rounded Ōhau Island with Motorboat III right on their tail.
Mr Kite II has still to round North East Island, and Clockwork further ahead is starting to point south.
MR KITE II TURNS HOME
Mr Kite II has rounded Ōhau Island, the westernmost point of the Three Kings group, and is now sitting north of the islands. From here Nathan Williams’ crew will round the north-eastern side of North East Island before turning south for the long run home to the finish line.
Clockwork, currently 12.8 nautical miles back, has taken a south-westerly line rather than heading directly for the North Cape, and at around 7.1 knots is tracking slightly slower than the three boats immediately behind her. Mr Kite II, Equilibrium and Motorboat III are all moving with a little more pace at this point in the race. Whether Mair’s route pays off on the approach to the rounding remains to be seen, but for now the gap is narrowing.
Further south Ākonga and Carpe Diem have chosen to sail slightly wider, west looking for that extra pace.
CLOCKWORK TURNS HOME
At the front of the fleet, Clockwork has rounded Ōhau Island and is now heading towards North East Island. It have essentially started its journey south back to the Waitematā Harbour from
CARPE DIEM IS NOW IN FRONT ON PHRF
Carpe Diem has just hit first place overall on PHRF. Motorboat III is on second with only seconds separating them. Clockwork remains on third.
CARPE DIEM — MOVES INTO 2ND OVERALL ON PHRF
Although Motorboat III still lead on PHRF, Carpe Diem has just moved into second place with Clockwork in third. Estimated corrected elapsed times show around a five-minute gap between first and third.
| Pos | Boat | Skipper | Handicap | DTF | Dist sailed | VMG | 24h DMG | Est. finish | Est. elapsed | Corrected elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorboat III | Damon Jolliffe | 0.931 | 266 NM | 229 NM | 7.8 kts | 170 NM | 19 Apr 00:49 | 2d 13h 49m | 2d 9h 33m |
| 2 | Carpe Diem | Rowan Smith | 0.778 | 338 NM | 145 NM | 6.5 kts | 146 NM | 19 Apr 13:05 | 3d 2h 5m | 2d 9h 38m |
| 3 | Clockwork | Steve Mair | 1.030 | 242 NM | 256 NM | 8.6 kts | 181 NM | 18 Apr 18:56 | 2d 7h 56m | 2d 9h 37m |
| 4 | Mr Kite II | Nathan Williams | 0.995 | 256 NM | 237 NM | 8.2 kts | 172 NM | 18 Apr 22:21 | 2d 11h 21m | 2d 11h 3m |
| 5 | Equilibrium | Graham Matthews | 1.059 | 264 NM | 229 NM | 7.9 kts | 172 NM | 19 Apr 00:30 | 2d 13h 30m | 2d 17h 8m |
| 6 | Higher Ground | John Seely | 0.888 | 311 NM | 188 NM | 6.2 kts | 133 NM | 19 Apr 17:10 | 3d 6h 10m | 2d 21h 24m |
| 7 | Akonga | Nick Roberts | 0.833 | 323 NM | 177 NM | 5.7 kts | 124 NM | 19 Apr 23:26 | 3d 12h 26m | 2d 22h 20m |
| DTF = Distance to Finish. VMG = Velocity Made Good. 24h DMG = Distance Made Good in 24 hours. Corrected elapsed = estimated elapsed time × handicap factor. All times NZST. Provisional results — refer to race website for official results. | ||||||||||
Clockwork VS MOTORBOAT III VS CARPE DIEM
Motorboat III has hit the lead again on PHRF. Carpe Diem is a tad off the pass but keeping the pressure on. Mr Kite II has recently picked up the pace as well.
Clockwork — back in front on PHRF
Clockwork has returned to the front of the fleet on PHRF with only minutes separating it from Motorboat III.
Clockwork — now passed halfway
Clockwork now has less nautical miles to sail back to the start line than it does miles behind it. It has sailed 249 nautical miles and now has 247 nautical miles to sail until the finish line. Clockwork remains in lead on Line Honours.
MOTORBOAT III NOW LEADS ON PHRF
Motorboat III has moved from second place on PHRF handicap into first place passing Clockwork as handicap race leader. Thirteen minutes separates the two boats on corrected time. Motorboat III remains fourth on line honours.
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 PHOTOS
Photos of the race start.
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.
Clockwork leads the charge north as Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race fleet splits in two
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.
