John Seely co-owns Higher Ground with Matthew Wilson, and together they carry serious offshore miles. Their most recent race was the 2026 Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Race, a 1,210-nautical-mile test of seamanship and endurance. It was their first time racing together at that event, and Seely is open in his assessment: “There were definitely areas for improvement, but we got round, didn’t have any arguments, and had a good time.” And that, in my view, equates to a good race.
The campaign was not without its challenges. Before the Round North Island, the pair spent eight months overhauling the boat, including a full rig-out, complete re-rig, renewed Category 2 safety gear, and new electronics. Seely, who lives in Queenstown, made the trip to Auckland every weekend to put the work in.
Preparation for the Three Kings has been lighter. Nothing broke during the Round North Island, and after routine maintenance Higher Ground is ready to race again.
Seely will line up with a crew of four. Joining him is Nigel Bish, a highly experienced short-handed sailor who took the Ross 930 Hotdogger to first on line and handicap in Division 4 of the 2026 Round North Island Race. Ryan McCready comes aboard having campaigned the Ross 914 Physical Favours in the same race, finishing fifth on line and handicap in Division 3. Rounding out the crew is Luke Tucker, son of Josh Tucker, who brings strong sailing credentials of his own.
The four-handed configuration is, Seely believes, a genuine asset. The boat was designed for a full crew, and having four people aboard means broader sail options and the confidence to make changes when conditions demand it. Watch routines will run on a rolling three-to-four hour basis, with flexibility built in as conditions develop. McCready and Tucker, the younger two, will take up positions further forward. “The younger you are the further forward on the boat you sit,” Seely says with a grin. Both bring energy, enthusiasm and a clear appetite to learn.
The forecast, at the time of speaking, was pointing toward a fast run north. “That would be the dream,” Seely said.
Route planning will be built around PredictWind, updated each time a new forecast drops. Seely is pragmatic about the limits of any single model: the real work is monitoring which forecast is tracking closest to reality as the race unfolds.
This is the first Three Kings for Seely and, he believes, for most of his crew. Nigel Bish came close in 2024 with Hotdogger but was unable to finish the course.
Higher Ground may be among the smallest boats on the startline. But she carries a crew with serious offshore miles beneath their boots, a hull that has already proven itself on one of New Zealand’s toughest offshore circuits, and a skipper who believes preparation is the foundation of everything.
The gun fires at 11am Thursday.
