The Rotorua Yacht Club's annual North Island Spring Sprints provided a spectacular sight this weekend.
Fifty boats and crews battled it out in six classes on Lake Rotorua with up to 13 races yesterday and today.
The sprints format is different to a normal regatta with it being continuous racing - each of about 20 minutes, around a triangular course with shorter start sequences.
Bruce Davy, the official race monitor and Rotorua Yacht Club member, said it was the club's biggest of the year and he was impressed with the standard of sailing despite it being one of the first sprint regattas of the season.
RIDING THE WAVES: Competitors enjoyed windy conditions in Rotorua for the 2016 North Island Spring Sprints over the weekend. PHOTO/ BEN FRASER.
"It's brilliant to see so many different classes on the lake - they really have provided a spectacular sporting event," he said.
"Certainly out of the two days Sunday provided the best weather for the sailing because there was a better wind to get the competitors going and the weather remained dry.
"The standard has been great. A lot of the sailors are used to ocean conditions where you get a long swell but the majority have adapted here well.
"Also people come back after winter with new boats and crews just easing themselves into the season but there has been some outstanding performances."
CALM WATERS: Lake Rotorua provided a stellar setting. PHOTO/ BEN FRASER.
Davy said he was particularly impressed with watching the catamaran boats - which included the A Class, PT, and Tornado classes.
"Catamarans have always been my boat of choice and they are incredibly dynamic in the water.
"And Rotorua is a great location for this event because it is very central and you get a nice steady wind."
The monohull boat classes were the 3.7, Zephyr and Skiffs - with a standout boat on the day being Frankinskiff owned by Tim Bartlet in the Skiffs class that won with a series points of 13.
For more information about the event visit www.yachtingnz.org.nz.
Results:
2016 North Island Sprints Rotorua Yacht Club
A Class: 1. Bruce Curson, series points: 21 2. Thomas Bloch, series points: 26 3. Brent Harsant, series points: 33.
PT Class: 1. Glenn Syman, series points: 29 2. Hayden Percy, series points: 31 3. Stuart Morrish, series points: 33
Tornado Class: 1. Stuart Pederson, series points: 7 2. Lance Putan, series points: 12
