Romanza (Rapido 60) has just triumphed in the Royal Akarana Yacht Club‘s 230nm Yates Cup, which was held last weekend from 17-18 July, 2020. The Yates Cup is an annual mid winter race around some of the islands in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, commencing and finishing in Auckland.
Below, Romanza’s co owner and skipper, Dougall Love, reports on an exhilarating 24 hours!
The Yates Cup is known for being a tough race, either because it’s inevitably blowing too hard or has no wind at all!
Take aways
- 26 starters; 230nm
- 9 (35 per cent) withdrawals (broken gear (incl. two TP52s) / seasick)
- 1st turning point: Romanza leads by 1.5 hours
- 2nd turning point: Romanza leads by 2.5 hours
- Romanza’s Greatest Lead: 3.5 hours
- Romanza’s Slowest Speed: Last 10 miles of race (4 hours (no wind)) to drift across the finish line with the support of the currents
- Finishing Time (24h 16m 45s)
- 2nd boat: 1.5 hours behind Romanza
Video: Skipper and co-owner, Dougall Love, provides several updates during the actual race
ORMA 60 Vodafone, holder of Yates Cup record
The record of 21 ½ hours was set by the ORMA 60, Vodafone, back in 2014 and, given the forecast was for ‘fresh’ easterlies for the whole race, we thought we might be in with a chance of beating that.
The forecast started at 40+ knots one week out, but, that front moved through.
For the actual race, the wind settled at 15–20 knots. This put off a lot of entries and so we were the only multihull in the fleet at the start, which was at 4 pm on Friday (17 July 2020).
1st Leg
The first leg was a long windward beat of around 50 miles which became increasingly rough as we left the shelter of the Gulf.
This proved the undoing for 9 of the Race’s 26 starters (35 per cent of the fleet) with broken gear or seasick crews. Withdrawals included two of the top TP52s, which regularly race here, with damage.
At the first turning point, we lead by 1½ hours.
Although it was ‘bouncy’ on Romanza, we broke absolutely nothing, stayed completely dry and still managed a hot dinner straight out of the oven for our eight crew (except for a couple too seasick to eat).
(Ed’s note: prior to publishing this report, we double-checked the number who were apparently seasick. We spoke to Chef, Jaz Love, who said, “Sure, it was rough and cold being mid-winter New Zealand – and a long way out from the mainland – but I did the lamb shank dinner and it was only ME (one of the eight) who was too seasick to eat. Everyone else demolished dinner. I know, I served it!
“Can’t have you thinking Romanza isn’t a great, rough weather, boat.”
So, let the official record show that there was only one seasick person aboard Romanza.)
[Track Romanza’s race in the Yates Cup 2020 in the video below.]
2nd Leg
Next leg was a long reach of over 70 miles through the night in largeish seas. We ran with the furling gennaker and the staysail inside it. Although the breeze lightened off, we still managed to average high 13’s to 15 knots, with surfs way up on that.
At the next turning mark, we had 2½ hours on the next boat and we increased our lead to 3½ hours on the way home.
The ORMA 60 Vodafone record looked beatable 35 miles out as we were tight reaching at 15-19 knots with either a full main or one reef, plus the jib.
The wind shut down
However, 10 miles from home, the wind shut down and it took us four hours to cover those 10 miles and literally drift across the line with the incoming tide!!
So, no record, but still an hour and a half ahead of the next boat which had breeze all the way in. Just over 24 hours for the race.
Assessing Romanza’s performance
Romanza performed beautifully and although some of the upwind bouncing was quite ‘impressive’, we didn’t feel at risk at any time.
She is extremely strong and stiff and can be pressed hard without feeling anywhere near an edge.
Reaching in the big seas had its moments when the swell tried to control us, but a quick easing of the sheets and a bit of helm down turned that straight into fast surfing. Exhilarating, even when it’s pitch black!
Being dry when it’s intermittently raining (the nearest land actually had severe flooding) and there’s spray going everywhere except into the boat, is wonderful too.
We shared a not very sympathetic thought for all the soaking wet and cold crews perched on monohull rails while we were dry and warm!
Overall
So, a great race in a great boat with a top crew. Nice to be able to handle the difficulties that broke so many boats without a hiccup and to arrive home tired but warm and dry.
Coming in first by so far was a bonus and the tracker looks impressive as we gap-off from everyone else 😊.
Follow up comment from the owner of Rapido 60, Ineffable, Stephen Bourne to Dougall
“Well done!!! Sorry you missed the record but to be that close in a hugely comfortable boat is some feat.
“No hanging about for dinner on an Orma 60… It’s exit stage left. Congratulations!!!”
More to follow
- Video with footage of Skipper, Dougall Love, providing commentary during the Yates Cup 2020
- Prize giving ceremony on 23 July 2020 (New Zealand time)
Below, video of Romanza in action in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand back in 2017.
