One Ton Revisited 2015 - Race 5

Rainbow II (Chris Bouzaid) finished the inaugural One Ton Revisited series in style with a second in the points-and-a-half final race on IRC corrected time, to complete a 2/1/1/1/2 series. The S&S36 Rainbow II had already wrapped up the contest with victory in the double points long race yesterday. Today’s result only emphasised her all-round pedigree and class. 

Rainbow II reveled in the predominantly light conditions that marked her return to racing in the Hauraki Gulf (photo Ivor Wilkins)

The course today was a 25-miler from the start off Northern Leading Beacon, counter-clockwise around Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, then back into the harbour to the finish off Princes Wharf. The breeze at the start was a 10-knot east-north easterly.

Impact (right) and Result rounding Billy Goat Point

At Billy Goat Point, on the north-eastern tip of Motutapu, the Farr 40 Pacific Sundance (Bernard Hyde) led by 400 metres from the Farr 36 Revolution (Tony Wallis/Max Cossey), Next came Rainbow II and the Carter 39 Wai Aniwa. Astern of them, the Lidgard designs Result and Impact were locked in their own titanic battle.

Pacific Sundance slides down the Rangitoto Channel under masthead spinnaker in a building nor-westerly (photo RNZYS)

At the Rangitoto Light mark (McKenzie Buoy), the two Farr boats, Pacific Sundance and Revolution were reveling in the downwind sailing with the breeze now puffing more than 12 knots which increased further as the fleet neared the last turning point at North Head. Pacific Sundance led from start to finish for a perfect score of five bullets, with Revolution finishing just five minutes behind to take corrected time honours and finish in second place overall. 

Wai Aniwa, Rainbow II, Result and Impact made a magnificent sight as they came charging down the Rangitoto Channel under spinnaker in a building breeze - Result's challenge came to an end in a spectacular broach, and shortly afterwards Rainbow II lost their spinnaker pole under compression loading, allowing Wai Aniwa to sneak ahead around North Head. However, Wai Aniwa made an error passing a channel marker the wrong way, which let both Rainbow II and Impact through on the final fetch up the harbour to the finish off Princes Wharf. This saw Wai Aniwa fall back to third place overall, just one point behind Revolution and one point ahead of Impact.

Final results: 1st Rainbow II (39pts), 2nd Revolution (27pts), 3rd Wai Aniwa (26pts), 4th Impact (25pts), 5th Pacific Sundance (17pts), 6th Result (13pts).

There was some consolation for Result which won the Altex Coatings Prix d'Elegance award for the "best presented boat and crew".

Result - winner of the Altex Coatings Prix d'Elegance award, seen here at the start of the fourth race (photo RNZYS)

At the series prizegiving held at Viaduct Harbour, there was little doubt about the success of the event, despite the small final fleet, with everyone talking in terms of “next year”. Many of the crews expressed their delight at the closeness of the racing and the spirit in which it was carried out. It was, the older hands agreed, a timely reminder of the competitive quality of Ton racing in days gone by.

Almost in response, Chris Bouzaid told the gathering that discussions were already under way with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to stage the event again in 12 months’ time, on a bigger scale. This would be achieved with a more inclusive set of IRC rating bands and by including Quarter, Half and even Two Tonners. If the response to the proposal is enthusiastic enough, the RNZYS could consider including Ton racing in its annual programme.


A nice video of Rainbow II and her legacy for New Zealand yachting has been added to the Volvo Ocean Race website and can be seen here:



And the TVNZ Sports feature on the One Ton Revisited regatta is here.