Sailing: Pair buoyant after race leg

Aucklanders Chris Maddock and Brett Elliott are all smiles after beating their sister ship into Napier on the penultimate leg of the Round North Island Yacht Race yesterday. Photo/Paul Taylor

In Auckland sailor Brett Elliott's words, he and mate Chris Maddock experienced a case of "hero to zero" on the Wellington to Napier leg of the Round North Island Yacht Race.

But the pair were all smiles after their Elliott 1350 Tourer Focus berthed at the Napier Sailing Club yesterday.

"We've scored a convincing win over our sister ship Fiction. During the last two legs we've finished within a couple of seconds of each other but they're still out there somewhere," Elliott said.

He was referring to their Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron clubmates Bill Dalbeth and Richard Bicknell who sail Fiction. At the same time Elliott was quick to point out his and Maddock's disappointment with their fifth place after finishing third on the Mangonui to Wellington leg.

"Conditions were pretty tricky on the leg to Napier. Midway into the leg we were looking good but then the sea became quite choppy with light winds.

"A couple of boats passed us and that was difficult to stomach but it was a good challenge and we enjoyed it."

Although graphic designer Maddock and yacht maintenance worker Elliott have both sailed for more than 20 years they are on their first Round North Island race.

"This is a race we have both wanted to do. We decided it was time to stop talking about it and just do it," Elliott said.

Once they dry their boat out Elliott said they only have a few small jobs to complete before they can enjoy the Hawke's Bay hospitality arranged for the fleet's crews which includes a wine tour.

"This is my first visit to Napier and I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody has told me the place has to offer," he added.

Blink, a Tony Wells-skippered Shaw 12 yacht from Wellington, took line honours yesterday. Second place went to Bushido, a Wayne Woods-skippered Elliott 35 from Auckland. Marshall Law, a Craig Smith-skippered Ross 40 from Auckland, was third.

The fleet will leave Napier on the final leg to Auckland with a mass start on Friday morning. Napier Sailing Club's Rear Commodore Paul Redman said the fleet was originally scheduled to leave tomorrow but the race rules state the fleet cannot leave until 48 hours after the 14th boat completes the previous leg and the 14th boat was estimated to arrive late last night. Of the eight boats which had finished early last night only a couple required minor sail repairs. Because the entire fleet had yet to arrive, Redman was unable to release handicap results.

Redman added it's the first time in several years no Napier Sailing Club members are in any of the crews. The 22 crews left Wellington at 5pm on Sunday.

The race began on Saturday with the Auckland to Mangonui leg.