The Launches Division served up a classic handicap contest, with the final result decided by seconds rather than minutes and the podium shaped by discipline, consistency, and knowing when not to push too hard.
Starting 30 minutes after the tugboats, the conditions were still choppy and gusty. But these classic launches have seen far worse over their long working lives, many having weathered rougher seas for a century or more.
My Girl set the early tone, taking line honours and backing it up with the handicap win on a corrected time of 22 minutes 37 seconds. Her crew delivered a tidy, well-judged run from start to finish.
Behind her, the real intrigue unfolded. Ngaio, the beautifully kept blue and white 1921 Arch Logan-built 36-footer owned by Jan Barraclough, stopped the clock more than seven minutes later on the water, yet corrected to just 17 seconds behind the winner. Ngaio’s result was a reminder that classic launches, sailed well, still punch hard under handicap.
Third on corrected time went to Pacific, finishing only one minute and two seconds behind My Girl. Consistent rather than full of flair, she stayed in touch throughout and kept the pressure on the leaders all the way to the finish.
Further back, Lucinda and Rehia rounded out the middle of the fleet. Both posted respectable elapsed times, but in a race this tight, small losses quickly added up on corrected time. Waiari and Callisto finished further back.
In the end, the Launches Division delivered what handicap racing does best. The top three were covered by just over a minute on corrected time, the launches mixed comfortably, and the results rewarded crews who knew their boats.
| Boat | Handicap place | Corrected time | Line honours place | Elapsed time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Girl | 1 | 0:22:37 | 1 | 0:24:19 |
| Ngaio | 2 | 0:22:54 | 2 | 0:31:48 |
| Pacific | 3 | 0:23:39 | 3 | 0:38:46 |
| Lucinda | 4 | 0:24:41 | 4 | 0:33:22 |
| Rehia | 5 | 0:26:03 | 5 | 0:47:21 |
| Waiari | 6 | 0:28:32 | 6 | 0:47:09 |
| Callisto | 7 | 0:31:08 | 7 | 0:41:31 |
