The Doyle Sails Gold Cup Series reaches its climax this Friday, 20 February 2026, with the Balokovic Cup, an 89 nautical mile overnighter that will decide the overall Gold Cup winner.
Please note, this article has been updated upon the confirmed entry list from race organisers.
Delivered in collaboration between Royal Akarana Yacht Club, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, Richmond Yacht Club, and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the five race Doyle Sails Gold Cup Series has stretched Auckland’s offshore fleet over demanding coastal courses ranging from 35 to 48 nautical miles.
The Spring Regatta set the early benchmark and revealed who had come prepared. Roy McDell reshuffled the order and tightened the margins. Bean Rock tested patience and positioning across the Gulf. Percy Jones most recently added further twists, leaving both Line Honours and handicap standings far from settled.
Now the series comes down to one final lap of the Gulf.
Route and conditions
Balokovic Cup route
The Balokovic Cup starts in the Orakei Wharf area, with the warning signal at 1825 for the two multihulls, Ocean’s Tribute and Wraith II, and 1830 for the remainder of the fleet.
The primary route forms a large Gulf triangle. Boats leave Browns Island to starboard, Waiheke Island to port, Cow and Calf to port, Flat Rock to port, Rangitoto Beacon to port, before finishing back at Orakei.
Weather outlook
PredictWind tells us that a southwesterly of 10 to 16 knots is forecast Friday morning, building to 14 to 19 knots by late afternoon with a moderate chop around Waiheke. Overnight winds ease, dropping to 8 knots by early Saturday afternoon, then fading toward calm by the 2200 time limit.
Tactically, an early push may prove decisive. Boats still offshore late Saturday risk drifting in light patches.
The fleet
The fleet is nicely mixed, from a pocket quarter tonner through to a modern 55 foot grand prix thoroughbred, with most of the fleet sitting in the competitive 30 to 36 foot range.
| Boat Name | Class/Type | Helm | Club | PHRF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apparition | Ross 35 | Marcel Vroege* | RNZYS/RYC | 0.797 |
| Carrera 3 | Monohull | John Meadowcroft | RNZYS | 0.842 |
| Equilibrium | Botin Carkeek 55 | Graham Matthews* | SSANZ | 1.059 |
| Flying Boat | Young 11 | Chris Beaumont* | RNZYS | 0.829 |
| Indis | Sunfast 3300 | Andrew Benton | RYC | 0.81 |
| Liquid Luck | E 30 S | David Wade | Sandspit Yacht Club | 0.866 |
| Magic Bus | Whiting 1/4 Tonner | Ross Bannan | RNZYS | 0.659 |
| Motorboat | SR 26 | Gavin Woodward | RNZYS | 0.745 |
| Nirvana | Dufour 45e | Nigel Hendy* | RNZYS | 0.848 |
There is also a distinct Kiwi sportboat flavour, with a Windy SR26, Motorboat, joined by the Ross 35 and the classic Whiting 1/4 Tonner. These lighter boats will relish pressure reaching legs but may suffer if the breeze fades late.
Offshore designs such as the Dufour 45e Nirvana and Sun Fast 3300 Indis add modern European influence.
Finally, Oceans Tribute and Wraith II round out the fleet in the multihull divisions. They’re both interesting in their own rights.
Series standings going in
On PHRF handicap, Nigel Hendy’s Dufour 45e Nirvana holds a slender one point advantage over Liquid Luck. Alegre remains in contention eight points back.
On Line Honours, Graham Matthews’ Botin Carkeek 55, Equilibrium, leads the series on 9 points. Alegre, who is not racing, sits just one point behind on 10. Liquid Luck is third on 18.
Indis is sharpening up for the 2026 Round North Island Race starting eight days later.
The two visiting trimarans, Oceans Tribute and Wraith II, add offshore flavour.
With both Line Honours and handicap titles still mathematically alive, the Balokovic Cup will not just crown a race winner, it will settle the Doyle Sails Gold Cup for 2026.
Learn more: https://rayc.co.nz/event/25-26-doyle-sails-gold-cup-race-5-balokovic-cup/
