Twenty-six crews launch from Devonport in gusty, choppy conditions
Twenty six yachts crossed the start line at 10am on the Waitematā Harbour this morning, setting off on the 2026 Doyle Sails Round the North Island Two Handed Yacht Race.
Racing began just off Devonport Wharf in a steady easterly of 12 to 14 knots, with gusts nudging into the high teens. At the gun, the fleet pressed north, slipping past North Head and out toward the Hauraki Gulf.
A one metre, short period chop rolled through the harbour, enough to keep crews sharp without slowing the pace.
The Round the North Island is one of New Zealand’s premier offshore shorthanded events. The course runs anticlockwise around the North Island, covering approximately 1,210 nautical miles with mandatory stopovers at Mangōnui Harbour (Northland), Waikawa (top of the South Island) and Napier. The race is organised by the Short Handed Sailing Association of New Zealand (SSANZ) and attracts a mix of serious offshore performance designs and capable cruiser-racers.
Among the fleet are boats of varied character, from larger offshore designs capable of strong VMG to agile and seaworthy cruiser-racers. This diversity adds tactical depth from the outset and makes positioning in the first leg more than just a speed test.
Early order tight through the harbour entrance
Motorboat III started off fast, clearly deciding an early lead would provide the best advantage. Close on her heels, were Explore Racing followed by Vixen Racing.
Once clear of the start, the fleet began to fan out. Skippers split their tactics toward North Head. One group hugged the Devonport shoreline, while the other tacked early and stood out wider, closer to the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. As the breeze filled unevenly across the harbour, more crews committed to the wider lane, searching for cleaner air. None, however, could reel in Motorboat III.
Approaching the harbour mouth, Motorboat III held the favoured line and edged further ahead as the fleet stretched north. Explore Racing remained within striking distance, pressing hard and sailing uncomfortably close to the rocks at North Head.
Vixen Racing, having tacked early for a wider angle, began to build speed on the reach. The top two entered the Hauraki Gulf tightly grouped, with Motorboat III leading from Explore Racing, with Vixen Racing charging within half a minute behind.
From the Gulf north to Mangōnui
With North Head behind them, the fleet now sets a northbound course up the east coast toward Mangōnui Harbour—the first significant waypoint on this long anticlockwise lap.
Leaders are projected to reach Mangōnui around Monday, depending on how the easterly holds and how the synoptic pattern evolves over the coming days. An opening easterly generally allows solid upwind or close-reaching progress along the coast before conditions begin to change further north.
Coastal effects off Northland can introduce variability: headlands can deflect or accelerate breezes, and the interaction of sea breeze and synoptic flow can compress or stretch positional differences. In a shorthanded race, managing sail changes, helm shifts, and crew fatigue through these early stages is as crucial as pure boat speed.
Fleet diversity and race format
The 2026 RNI fleet reflects a broad cross-section of offshore shorthanded talent. Entries include performance-oriented designs alongside capable cruiser-racers, each offering different strengths depending on breeze angle and sea state.
This variety influences tactical decisions throughout the course. Smaller, more manoeuvrable designs may excel in chop and coastal transitions, while larger boats with longer waterline lengths can benefit from more consistent offwind pressure. Skippers and crews will be weighing these factors as they determine sail selections and routing choices in the hours and days ahead.
The race format, with its multiple stopover points, adds strategic planning layers. Competitors must balance speed with reliability and crew stamina to avoid gear strain or unnecessary risk in the early miles.
A strong launch into a long race
The 10am start delivered firm conditions without being demanding. A clean exit from the Waitematā and a tight first run to the Hauraki Gulf gave each crew an early chance to settle into their watch systems and work routines.
The leaderboard will evolve as the fleet works its way up the coast, but the clean start and steady breeze provide a solid foundation from which to tackle the longer, more variable segments ahead.
For now, the focus is on maintaining momentum, managing crew workload, and positioning well before the fleet confronts the first offshore night.
We will continue to follow the race closely as the Doyle Sails Round the North Island Two-Handed Yacht Race unfolds.
