A gripping finish saw Gold Coast Australia battle the odds of a damaged mainsail to finish first in race five of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The 21m yacht crossed the finishing line at Tauranga beating into a strong wind at 3.26am yesterday, heading off eight other identical boats representing cities, countries and corporates from all over the globe.
The 10th entry, Singapore, was forced to pull out because of damaged steering gear and will arrive after the rest of the fleet has crossed the finishing line.
Race five of the 15-race, 40,000-mile circumnavigation of the world began when the fleet left the Western Australian port city of Geraldton 19 days ago.
Gold Coast Australia has led from the start of the 3800-mile stage, a race that saw the 10 teams face the full fury of Mother Nature as they raced across the Southern Ocean, riding out storms and surfing waves as tall as buildings.
But the brakes went on for Gold Coast Australia when it damaged its mainsail rounding East Cape, 160kms from Tauranga. The team had to watch the chasing pack close down their lead.
Skipper Richard Hewson, pictured, said that with a bunch of five boats so close together, they could easily have gone from first to sixth if they had not got everything in order.
"The crew dug really deep and I'm very proud of them.
"It's nice to have another pennant," he said."
Clipper 11-12 was being raced by people from all walks of life and nationalities, with ages ranging from 18 to Aucklander Fred Tooley's 72. Crew could sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more legs of the world's longest yacht race.
As Mr Tooley stepped on to home soil, he said: "There's only one phrase for it, this is something else."
The Christchurch parents of Fred's fellow Kiwi crew member, Anna Guthrie, 35, were on the dockside to welcome their daughter home.
She said race five had been "very challenging and a contrast" to her first leg down to Rio.
Hundreds more have made their way to meet their loved ones and to enjoy an extended holiday in the Bay of Plenty.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Glenn Ormsby said: "With 180 crew on board, the supporting race team, the crew's family and friends, it was a perfect opportunity to showcase the region".
Mr Ormsby said the publicity around this high-profile event would help spread the word that Bay of Plenty beaches were open, the waterwas clean and virtually all attractions and activities were operating as normal.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said it was great to have some good news about water-borne vessels for a change. "We look forward to welcoming the crews to our beautiful harbour and city."
It was the first time the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has visited New Zealand since its inception in 1996. Organisers will be meeting with local businesses and government representatives to strengthen links with the region and demonstrate how partners can use the event as a global platform to promote trade and tourism.
During the stopover the yachts will be open for the public to meet the crew and see for themselves what life was like on board a stripped-down racing yacht.
The yachts will be open between 1pm and 4pm today and Sunday.
On Tuesday, the yachts will open between 4pm and 7pm and on Thursday, and next Saturday, between 1pm and 4pm.