With the forecast of a 20 knot northerly and fine sunny weather, a fleet of 9 boats were a starter for this year's fully crewed Brothers Race. With a great start by Ran Tan II, Young Nicholson and Montego Bay III, the fleet headed under spinnakers and gennakers for the heads. The wind turned a little more frisky in the Cook Strait as Ran Tan II exited Wellington harbour first followed by Young Nicholson and Clear Vision.

Reefs were tucked in by Terawhiti as gusts were in the 30s (38 knots recorded) and the swell around the 1 to 2 meter mark. Reefs were not shaken out until just before the Brothers as the conditions proved a little less tame than expected.

 

The early leaders remained the same with Ran Tan II well ahead of the rest of the fleet rounding the Brothers and putting up a gennaker to ride back to Terrawhiti.

Young Nicholson was 100 meters to starboard of Clear Vision at the Brothers in a neck and neck rounding. Young Nicholson blasted ahead of Clear Vision with their Mount Gay spinnaker, swapping it shortly afterwards for a gennaker for better angles. Unfortunately, Young Nicholson blew one of their runners as they briefly made more than 16knots, leading Young Nic to sail conservatively home.

 

Ran Tan II smashed Andiamo's record by over an hour, finishing in 6 hours 16 seconds. Clear Vision (helmed by Peter Vause) finished second on line in a little under 8 hours, and Young Nicholson third. A quick race for all with Am Meer the last in with a time of just over 9 hours.

 

Final results

General Handicap:

PHRF:

IRC:

 

Two crew on Clear Vision had never been on an offshore before. Their response when asked whether they enjoyed it was "Awesome!".

For full results click here.

Clear Vision photos by Steffi Hipp

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Further photos provided by Dean Stotter

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