Fifteen two-handed boats, a full moon, and a forecast that delivered. The 2026 Spartafit SSANZ Anzac Enduro wrapped up the offshore season in style over ANZAC Weekend.
Racing started early Friday evening just off Westhaven, scattering across the Hauraki Gulf on courses ranging from 23 nautical miles for the Cruising fleet to 60 for the Longhaul boats, who pushed north past the Whangaparaoa Navy buoy, around the Cow and Calf Islands, down to Pakatoa and Frenchmans Cap before finishing at Chamberlains Bay (Ponui Island/Chamberlins Island). The Shorthaul fleet took in Waiheke, Pakatoa and Frenchmans Cap. The Cruising boats had the short but scenic run: Browns Island, Passage Rock, done.
Niksen‘s Team Michel called it “glamour sailing conditions,” and the results suggest everyone made the most of them.
Longhaul: Niksen wins a quality fleet on handicap
The BBW 37, General Lee, was first across the line but Niksen, a Dehler 30OD, had the measure of the fleet on PHRF handicap, finishing with a corrected time of 6 hours 58 minutes 9 seconds to take the division. The most dramatic moment of the race unfolded well down the fleet, where Kaymai, an Azuree 46, beat Start Me Up, a Ross 930, by just 12 seconds on corrected time after more than nine hours at sea.
Shorthaul: Young 88 one-two
Flash Gordon and Satellite, both Young 88s, made it a class clean sweep, Flash Gordon taking line honours and handicap with a corrected time of 3 hours 19 minutes 49 seconds. About Time II, a Hanse 385, completed the top three.
Cruising: MOTORBOAT II leads from start to finish
MOTORBOAT II was quickest on elapsed time and first on handicap, finishing a little after 8:30 on Friday evening. Carpe Diem and Aeolian rounded out the top three. The last boat in the Cruising division, Total Recall, finished just over an hour later.
Anzac Day prizegiving on Ponui Island
With the fleet in and Anzac Day dawning clear, the prizegiving moved onshore at Chamberlains Bay. Niksen’s crew described the occasion as “an even better post race BBQ.” A fitting end to a busy offshore season, and by all accounts, a hard event to top.
