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The Doyle Sails Gold Cup fleet returns to the Hauraki Gulf this Saturday for the Roy McDell Memorial Race, just two weeks after the Spring Regatta established an unexpectedly tight three-way contest at the top.
The approximately 35nm race from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the second of five Gold Cup events and also counts towards the RNZYS Commodore's Cup, bringing competitors from two season competitions onto the same course.
Richmond Yacht Club's Spring Regatta on 19 September produced an exceptionally tight PHRF result at the front. Equilibrium, the Botin Carkeek 55, was fastest around the approximately 50nm course in 5h14m13s, but Clockwork's Shaw 12 corrected to victory by 3m06s. Rum Bucket finished three seconds ahead of Equilibrium on corrected time despite trailing by 47m25s on the water.
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Saturday's shorter distance and different course options will test whether Richmond's tight contest at the front continues into Race 2. The RNZYS race committee has two principal courses available — both using the Eastern Navy Buoy, Rakino Island and Orarapa Island, but in different order and direction. Shortened alternatives of approximately 26nm and 30nm are also available.
The developing forecast suggests a moderate westerly to southwesterly breeze that may persist further into the afternoon than earlier predictions indicated. The shorter distance gives the faster boats less racecourse over which to build an elapsed-time advantage, while a steadier afternoon breeze could provide a cleaner test of the relationships established at Richmond.
Racing starts at 10am from the Ōrākei Wharf area, and you can follow the fleet live on the PredictWind race tracker as they make their way around the Gulf.
Behind the leading three, Nirvana was fourth on both elapsed and corrected time at Richmond, 17m55s behind Clockwork on handicap. Fulcrum and Visage also demonstrated how PHRF can reorder positions — Fulcrum beat Visage by 12m29s on the water, but Visage corrected almost half an hour ahead.
Wasted Away and Carrera 3, Gold Cup entrants who did not compete at Richmond, may make their season debut on Saturday.
Clockwork's course-record RNZYS Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race win in April established Steve Mair's boat as a proven offshore performer. The Shaw 12 completed the Three Kings Offshore Race in 2d03h38m17s, setting the current race record.
Meanwhile, Equilibrium's back-to-back fastest monohull performances at the Spring Regatta underline its outright speed.
The question now is whether Equilibrium can create enough separation on a shorter course to overcome its higher rating, or whether Clockwork and Rum Bucket can again turn proximity into handicap advantage.
https://rnzys.org.nz/sailing/commodorescup/
Overall 2026-2027 Doyle Sails Gold Cup Series results after Race 1, Spring Regatta.
Line honours
| Pos | Boat | Class / Type | Helm | Elapsed | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equilibrium | Botin Carkeek 55 | Graham Matthews | 5:14:13 | 1 |
| 2 | Clockwork | Shaw 12 | Steve Mair | 5:20:03 | 2 |
| 3 | Rum Bucket | More 55 | Quintin Fowler | 6:01:38 | 3 |
| 4 | Nirvana | Dufour 45e | Nigel Hendy | 6:47:56 | 4 |
| 5 | Fulcrum | Dibley 40 | Derek Grul | 7:25:13 | 5 |
| 6 | Visage | BW 38 | Jonathan J Gravit | 7:37:42 | 6 |
| DNC | Wasted Away | Ross 930 | Luke Judge | — | 9 |
| DNC | Carrera 3 | MC31 | John Meadowcroft | — | 9 |
PHRF
| Pos | Boat | Class / Type | PHRF | Corrected | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clockwork | Shaw 12 | 1.030 | 5:29:39 | 1 |
| 2 | Rum Bucket | More 55 | 0.920 | 5:32:42 | 2 |
| 3 | Equilibrium | Botin Carkeek 55 | 1.059 | 5:32:45 | 3 |
| 4 | Nirvana | Dufour 45e | 0.852 | 5:47:34 | 4 |
| 5 | Visage | BW 38 | 0.842 | 6:25:23 | 5 |
| 6 | Fulcrum | Dibley 40 | 0.932 | 6:54:57 | 6 |
| DNC | Wasted Away | Ross 930 | 0.774 | — | 9 |
| DNC | Carrera 3 | MC31 | 0.838 | — | 9 |
