If the first night of the Three Kings Offshore had a theme, it was glamour. Not the red carpet kind. The kind you only get offshore at night, when the stars are out, the boat is moving, and the only thing on your mind is what’s for breakfast.
If you missed the start of the race, here it is:
Seven boats checked in on this morning (Friday) and between them they painted a picture of a fleet that has settled into the rhythm of the race, tired, alert, and still very much in it.
The front of the fleet
Clockwork‘s morning report, filed as the sun came up, had the quiet confidence of a crew who know they are ahead. “Champagne sailing overnight, though a bit slower, making our way across to the Kings as the sun rises. Could be plenty of waiting today.” The light patch approaching the Three Kings Islands is a known feature of this race. Steve Mair’s crew will be hoping to punch through it before the trailing boats close in.
Mr Kite II kept it brief: “Glamour night. All happy.” Nathan Williams’ Cape 40 is second on line honours and third on handicap, and sometimes three words is all you need.
Wet, fast and a long way from home — the Three Kings fleet at 24 hours
Equilibrium gave the most detailed technical report of the morning. Heading 303 degrees over ground at 6.5 knots, wind dying back to 4-6 knots from 220 degrees. Graham Matthews noted a very pleasant sail through the night with kind seas and clear skies, adding that all personnel on board are well and enjoying the challenge. The next six hours in very light conditions will be the test. For a boat carrying the heaviest handicap in the fleet, light air is not a friend.
The middle of the fleet
Motorboat III matched Mr Kite II‘s enthusiasm and raised it. “Absolute glamour of a night for a sail. Dark as anything but the stars were epic.” The photo that came with the report said everything else: four crew grinning in full offshore gear, mugs raised, somewhere in the dark Hauraki Gulf. This morning Damon Jolliffe was up the mast. The Rogue Sails inventory is up and working. These guys are having the time of their lives.
Higher Ground went in a different direction entirely. John Seely’s Ross 1066 crew are apparently running a dual operation. “Getting the game rods ready. Big gear rigged up for big fish and big sails for big wipeouts.” Whether the fishing paid off was not reported. The big sails, judging by the race photo, very much did.
<h2>The back of the fleet</h2>
Carpe Diem addressed the tracker issue head on, with admirable directness. “Calm uneventful night. Bit slower now. Not as slow as what our tracker is showing.” Rowan Smith’s crew are well aware that their position on the YB Tracker has been raising eyebrows. The Elliott 1060 is moving, their 0.778 handicap is doing serious work on corrected time, and the crew sound entirely unfazed.
And then there is Ākonga. Nick Roberts’ Dehler 41 continues to file the most evocative reports in the fleet. “Stunning starlit night. Lighter breeze overnight with a calm sea. Occasional dolphin escort. All well on board and we are off Doubtless Bay.” Breakfast this morning: coffee, muesli, yoghurt and blueberries. Yesterday it was beef and mozzarella pies. The galley on Ākonga appears to be the best-run department in the fleet.
A long way still to go. But by all accounts, a very fine night to be out there.
