Sailing: Better conditions brings more action in Bay of Islands

Temptation sailors work hard during the Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta. Photo/Will Calver

After a slow start in calm conditions on day one, it was a very different Bay of Islands morning that met around 1000 sailors taking part in the 15th annual Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta on Thursday. Much to the delight of race organisers and participants alike, a steady southerly allowed racing to start without delay, and 104 yachts - from sports boats to superyachts - took to the water for day two of racing in glorious Northland sunshine.

Racing across all divisions was well contested, with everything left to play for as momentum continued to build in anticipation of the final day of racing.

In the windward-leeward races it was still a tussle between Viento and Mayhem for line honours, with each claiming a first and second place from the first two races.

In the bay race things got a little more interesting, with a late sea breeze pushing the fleet up to speeds in excess of 20 knots as they cleared the finish line.

Temptation stepped their performance up a notch in the third and final race of the day to claim second on line, and knock the others off the top spot on PHRF.

Although only fourth in the bay race, Wired could easily have laid claim to the most stylish manoeuvre of the day.

Their long downwind leg from the Ninepin on starboard tack was suddenly interrupted as the breeze changed direction without warning, crash gybing the boat.

The crew were witnessed simply gybing the pole over and continuing - totally unphased - on port tack to the mark.

At the end of day two, the series results still show Viento with a clear lead on both PHRF and IRC.

The fleet of very different yet highly competitive boats in E Division had three different winners in three races, but at the end of day two it was local Darren Crawford's Elliott 5.9 Icebreaker that wass out in front on both PHRF and general handicap.

After a lacklustre effort in Wednesday's races, race one today saw a Kidman comeback with Bill Kidman's Yahoo Serious second and Arriba, crewed by Lewis Kidman, comfortably claiming first.

But the comeback was short-lived, and strong performances by the apparently untouchable Stony Broke in races two and three saw them at the top of the Tornado Nationals table, with a five-point lead over second placed C4.

Big fleets in the Island Racing divisions reflect a sea change in the type of racing participants enter Bay of Islands Sailing Week to compete in.

This year, more than half the fleet opted to sail the longer passage-style races of the Island Racing divisions, in preference to the windward-leeward races of other divisions.

The passage races use many of the natural landmarks and features of the Bay of Islands as race marks, so it's perhaps no wonder that competitors are choosing to sail and see more of this spectacular marine amphitheatre.

In Island Racing A division, Carerra and Anarchy have been the standout performers but after two days of racing it was Carerra at the top with a slim lead over second placed Anarchy.

Two races over two days have seen completely different boats in the top three positions of Island Racing B division, leaving it all to play for on the third and final day.

Thirsty Work moved up the podium in Island Racing C, building on their second placing on Wednesday to claim first place on day two, and a three-point lead at the top of the series results.