October is shaping up as a landmark month for the Elliott 5.9 Class, featuring the grand finale of the Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series at Sandspit on 17–18 October, closely followed by the opening round of the Southern Circuit at Lake Aviemore on 23–24 October.
For North Island teams, Sandspit represents the final opportunity to tune up and lock in performance metrics under race conditions before traveling south for a massive autumn double-header at Naval Point Yacht Club on Lyttelton Harbour: the South Island Championships on 6–7 March 2027 and the Elliott 5.9 National Championship on 11–13 March 2027.
Sandspit is a unique event on the calendar, run entirely by the class itself. Race management will be overseen by Megan Kensington, while Class President Stu Clark handles the task of organizing overall event logistics, an effort hugely appreciated by the entire fleet.
The fight for overall honours in the Burnsco Traveller Series comes down to a tight duel between Revelry and Reggae Shark. Holding a 15.5-point margin entering Round 5, Revelry leads the standings on 95.5 net points, but Reggae Shark on 111 points remains well within striking distance.
Behind the frontrunners, Bloodline on 132 points holds a narrow 3-point edge over Zoot Allures on 135 points in the race for 3rd overall, with Dirty Circus on 146 points and Slam Dunk on 146.5 points poised to pounce. Revelry, Reggae Shark, and Bloodline also enter the finale deadlocked on points for the Most Improved Ranking Trophy.
Fresh off winning Round 4 in the Bay of Islands, ShapeShifter returns to the starting line as a primary pace-setter. Adding even more excitement to the line-up is the potential appearance of long-time class benchmark R+R. If R+R joins the fleet alongside ShapeShifter, Revelry, and Reggae Shark, Sandspit will deliver a National-level showdown on the water.
A number of crews are already planning to make the Cook Strait crossing early in March to compete in the Nationals and take on the South Island fleet on their home waters. Some may even head down earlier for the South Island Championship as a direct warm-up.
In preparation for these Nationals, action south of Cook Strait kicks off just days after Sandspit, with the Southern Circuit featuring four key stops across the mainland before culminating in March’s championship regattas:
- Lake Aviemore: 23–24 October 2026
- Port Chalmers: 5–6 December 2026
- Nelson: 23–24 January 2027
- Pigeon Bay: 13–14 February 2027
The season culminates at Naval Point Yacht Club in Lyttelton with the South Island Championship on 6–7 March 2027 and the National Championship on 11–13 March 2027.
The opening event at Lake Aviemore will test crews with classic inland freshwater lake conditions, culminating in the iconic long race around the lake to crown the Lake Aviemore Classic Champion.
The Southern fleet enters the season boasting a mix of proven champions, established contenders, and exciting new additions to the roster. Eagle claimed top honours in last season’s Southern Circuit overall standings. However, Boat 1, the previous South Island Champion, won Round 1 at Naval Point last year and remains a constant threat at the front of the fleet.
Tekno continues to be a consistently competitive performer in Southern waters. Meanwhile, Retro, skippered by long-time class supporter Andrew McFarlane of Nautilus Braids, brings proven race-winning pedigree. Local fleet depth receives a boost with two new boats lining up this season: Titanium, formerly Order 66, and Nevis, which moves south following competitive action in the North Island Traveller Series.
The class continues to benefit from outstanding sponsor support, with Burnsco providing sponsorship throughout the Traveller Series and Nautilus Braids continuing their support with rope packs and backing for the Southern Circuit.
Beyond the on-water battles, Sandspit remains a highlight on the class calendar for its social traditions. The weekend kicks off on Friday evening as crews set up at the camping ground adjacent to Sandspit Yacht Club. Following two days of tight one-design racing, the fleet will assemble on Saturday evening for the final Traveller Series function to celebrate the season, crown the 2026 Series Champions, and present the annual trophies.
The class continues to develop its strength as a truly national class with strong fleets in both Islands and the ability to travel to great sailing locations around both Islands. It is always a great time when boat fleets come together to battle out a true national championship, and this year will be no different.
With limited boats on the market and definite interest from those wanting to join the class, contacting Stu Clark, the class president, is the best way for those wanting to get a boat and join in on the action.
Follow results and pictures online at https://www.facebook.com/elliott5.9 and for more information on the Elliott 5.9 Class Association visit https://elliott59.weebly.com/
Previous results can be found at https://elliott59.weebly.com/results.html
About The Elliott 5.9
The Elliott 5.9 emerged in the early 1980s as a high-performing trailer yacht and continues to deliver competitive one-design racing in a welcoming fleet of world-class sailors and novices alike. The boats started a revolution with their well-balanced and cost-effective design, and quickly became the boat of choice for top club training schemes and a breeding ground for NZ’s America’s Cup, Ocean Race, and Olympic champions.
Sailed by a crew of three, the Elliott 5.9 remains a low-maintenance sailboat with an efficient single-spreader fractional rig, a well-balanced sail plan, and practical deck layout. Whether sailing among mixed trailer yachts, sport boat fleets, or in a one-design setting, the 5.9 is celebrated for its responsiveness and outstanding value.
