Imagine beating a professional, elite Volvo 65 racing machine upwind in 22 knots, taking Line Honours, and doing it all while your crew enjoys a roast lamb dinner with a washing machine still on board. That is exactly what happened when the Rapido 60, Romanza, claimed an historic victory.
Dougall Love, owner of the Rapido 60 Romanza, has shared incredible news from New Zealand’s legendary Auckland Tauranga Centennial Race 2021, held on 27 March 2021. Finishing with an impressive elapsed time of 10 hours, 42 minutes, and 46 seconds, the ocean-going cruising trimaran claimed line honours and won on corrected time by a massive 93 minutes.
Competitors included the formidable Volvo 65, New Zealand Ocean Racing Team, which finished nearly 6 minutes behind (10:48:05). See below for the firsthand race recap from Dougall.
“A Nice 130-Mile Race” — Firsthand Account from Dougall Love
“It was a nice 130-mile race to Tauranga from Auckland on Saturday, 27 March 2021 (click on map to enlarge).
“Romanza took line honours ahead of the Volvo 65 (from The Ocean Race), New Zealand Ocean Racing, that’s been winning everything.
“We put 15 minutes on her upwind in 16-22 knots and bumpy seas in the first 35-mile leg. We then gapped off with slightly eased sheets to 30 minutes ahead before putting another five minutes on her with Code Zero reaching. She then got back into us as it went light and aft.
“Romanza still beat New Zealand Ocean Racing by 10 minutes for a great win. Next boat was two hours back!! Comfortable and fast sailing.
“We had a roast lamb dinner with rum when we arrived at Tauranga – and all with the washing machine still onboard!”
(Editor’s note: When Romanza won the 2020 Yates Cup, the crew enjoyed a lamb shanks dinner during the actual race. And that same washing machine performed perfectly when Romanza crossed the Tasman Sea back in 2018.)
🔗 Related Media & Race Coverage
- Official Results of the Auckland-Tauranga Centennial Race 2021
- Happy Yachties enjoy fast race to Tauranga – SunLive Feature Article
- Follow Romanza in the Auckland-Tauranga Yacht Race on Tracker
- What would you change on the Rapido 60? Romanza’s owners reply
- Romanza triumphs in 2020 Yates Cup
- Official New Zealand Ocean Racing website and their Instagram post
- Learn more about The Ocean Race
- Romanza wins “agonisingly slow” finish to NZ’s PIC Coastal Classic on corrected time (includes video)
🎥 On-The-Water Video Footage
Above: File footage of Rapido 60, Romanza sailing in the Hauraki Gulf.
Above: The Volvo 65, New Zealand Ocean Racing in the 2020 PIC Coastal Classic.
Above: Romanza winning the 2020 PIC Coastal Classic on corrected time.
