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The skipper of Drinks Trolley might have needed to order a stiff whisky for his crew after an unfortunate mishap just before the start of the recent Yates Cup.
Drinks Trolley, skippered by Nicholas Gardiner, nearly didn't make the start for the 230 nautical mile race after getting what looked like an Optimist mainsheet caught around its propellor just before the start.
Thankfully, a crewman (Ned) braved the wintry water to free the rope and they managed to start on time.
Drinks Trolley eventually finished sixth in the race won by the star-studded Vixen Racing, which featured Scott Fickling (skipper), Sally Garrett, Sharon Ferris-Choat and James Tucker (pictured).
They took 28 hours and 18 minutes to complete the course, which took the fleet from Orakei, to Channel Island, Cuvier, Great Barrier, Poor Knights and then back to Orakei. V5 took line honours.
The second half of the fleet arrived into Auckland just in time for the outgoing tide and a dying breeze to make for a frustrating finish and a long race (over 34 hours for some). Full results here.
The race is designed as a training race for larger offshore events and host club the Royal Akarana Yacht Club are currently planning an Auckland to Fiji race in June 2023 and asking for expressions of interest.
“We are incredibly keen to get our offshore races back on the schedule after years of being locked away here in New Zealand," commodore Jason Morgan said. "We were busy planning for Auckland Fiji 2020 but were forced to cancel due to Covid-19 but now, as we move past lockdowns and the world opens up, sending a fleet of racing yachts back to Fiji is a huge priority for our sailing committee.”
Find more information about the Auckland Fiji race here, including an expressions of interest form.
