Saturday's tall ships race in the Bay of Islands has been won by a kauri ketch that has competed in every race bar one in the event's 40-year history.
Reremoana, a Herreshoff 36 built in Opua 50 years ago and owned by Paihia's David Hope-Lewis, took out the handicap title in a race shortened to 14 nautical miles due to light winds.
Nearly 90 vessels of all shapes and sizes - from the 33m Spirit of New Zealand to a 2.4m junk dubbed Captain Pugwash - entered this year's Tall Ships and Classic Invitational, hosted every January by the Russell Boating Club.
Another 25 boats entered an allcomers race around an extended course open to any vessel and held for only the second time this year.
The classic was won by Driftaway, a New Zealand-designed Harmonic 24 yacht owned by Richard Cross of Opua.
The event is as much a social occasion and a chance to admire lovingly restored boats as it is a race. One of the oldest boats there was Undine, a cargo cutter built in the Kerikeri Inlet in 1887, which won the prize for best gaff-rigged vessel.
Racing was followed by a hangi for 800 people, prepared by an army of volunteers. Two bands played until morning in the Matauwhi Bay clubhouse and a nearby marquee.
Accepting the tall ships trophy, Mr Hope-Lewis paid tribute to the event organisers. "This race is one of the great privileges of my life, to be able to race with such awesome people who've given so much time to create this regatta." His daughter, Vanessa Hope-Lewis, flew from London to take part in the boat's 50th birthday race.
Club commodore Debbi Norman said the event's long history set it apart from other races, as well as the way the entire Russell community pitched in to make it a success.
Sixteen of the 20 tall ships completed the course while 51 finished in the classic category. The tall ships, defined as vessels of at least 9m with two or more masts, included three square-rigged vessels: Breeze, R Tucker Thompson and Spirit of New Zealand. This year the number of junk-rigged boats taking part was notable. It was the 24th race organised by event veteran Christine Hall.
RESULTS
Tall Ships, handicap: Reremoana (Paihia) 1; Pendragon (Kerikeri) 2; Long White Cloud (Ruakaka) 3; Maria Tomasia (Waiheke) 4; Red Witch II (US) 5. Line honours: Ponsonby Scow (Auckland).
Classic Invitational, handicap: Driftaway (Opua) 1; Waiomo (Opua) 2; Nexus (Opua) 3; Ahti (Okiato) 4; Sandman (Parekura Bay) 5. Line honours: Tawera (Auckland).
Allcomers, line honours: Hard Drive (Russell).
Zeke Patterson Trophy for best gaff-rigged boat: Undine (Paihia).
Joe Cotton Trophy for best wooden boat: Waiomo (Opua).
First junk-rigged vessel: La Chica (Auckland).