{"id":384965,"date":"2026-04-17T23:45:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T23:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/384965\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T23:45:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T23:45:23","slug":"heading-home-the-three-kings-fleet-turns-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/384965\/","title":{"rendered":"Heading home \u2014 the Three Kings fleet turns south"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clockwork says they will see us later today. Mr Kite II says they are coming in hot. Motorboat III is doing 18.5 knots with Red Bull for breakfast and the captain on the helm.<\/p>\n

Nearly 48 hours into the Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race, the first four boats are on the home stretch, the racing is as tight as it has been at any point, and the handicap result is genuinely too close to call.<\/p>\n

The front four are flying<\/p>\n

Clockwork leads on line honours, sitting 61 nautical miles from the finish and tracking at 9 knots. Steve Mair\u2019s Shaw 12 is currently about 25 nautical miles offshore of Ruakaka, running hard for home. Their morning message was brief and to the point: absolutely sending it home, not long to go now.<\/p>\n

– Advertisement, article continues below –<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Race Tracker<\/p>\n

Line Honours<\/p>\n

Pos
\nBoat
\nDTF
\nDist Sailed
\nVMG
\n24h DMG
\nEst Finish
\nEst Elapsed<\/p>\n

1
\nClockwork
\n61 NM
\n472 NM
\n9.0 kts
\n202 NM
\n18 Apr 16:45
\n2d 5h 45m 1s<\/p>\n

2
\nMr Kite II
\n75 NM
\n442 NM
\n8.7 kts
\n204 NM
\n18 Apr 18:38
\n2d 7h 38m 5s<\/p>\n

3
\nEquilibrium
\n77 NM
\n438 NM
\n8.7 kts
\n209 NM
\n18 Apr 18:55
\n2d 7h 55m 4s<\/p>\n

4
\nMotorboat III
\n84 NM
\n428 NM
\n8.5 kts
\n211 NM
\n18 Apr 19:50
\n2d 8h 50m 22s<\/p>\n

5
\nHigher Ground
\n169 NM
\n340 NM
\n6.7 kts
\n151 NM
\n19 Apr 11:10
\n3d 0h 10m 22s<\/p>\n

6
\nAkonga
\n209 NM
\n299 NM
\n5.9 kts
\n120 NM
\n19 Apr 21:36
\n3d 10h 36m 0s<\/p>\n

7
\nCarpe Diem
\n222 NM
\n282 NM
\n5.6 kts
\n114 NM
\n20 Apr 01:47
\n3d 14h 47m 24s<\/p>\n

Positions as at 18 Apr 10:00 \u2022 All boats started 16 Apr 11:00 \u2022 DTF = Distance to Finish\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the handicap story is far more interesting. Despite leading on the water by 14 nautical miles over Mr Kite II, Clockwork sits third on PHRF corrected time. Motorboat III leads on handicap by a significant margin, their corrected elapsed of 2d 4h 55m giving them nearly two and a half hours over the next boat. The question is whether Damon Jolliffe\u2019s crew can convert that paper lead into an actual finish advantage. With 84 nautical miles still to sail, that is not a foregone conclusion.<\/p>\n

\"AtAt the start of the RNZYS Three Kings Offshore yacht Race, Mr Kite II \/\/ Photo credit: Roger Mills \/ Boating New Zealand<\/p>\n

Motorboat III\u2018s morning reports have been characteristically energetic. An earlier sked had them nearly at Cape Brett with a beautiful kite ride underway from the Three Kings in a slowly building breeze. A later audio update captured the mood perfectly: 18.5 knots on the dial, Red Bull for breakfast, and the captain on the helm. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re flying,\u201d came the explanation.<\/p>\n

Race Tracker<\/p>\n

– Advertisement, article continues below –\"\"<\/a>
\nPHRF Results<\/p>\n

Pos
\nBoat
\nHandicap
\nDTF
\nDist Sailed
\nVMG
\n24h DMG
\nEst Finish
\nEst Elapsed
\nCorrected Elapsed<\/p>\n

1
\nMotorboat III
\n0.931
\n84 NM
\n428 NM
\n8.5 kts
\n211 NM
\n18 Apr 19:50
\n2d 8h 50m 22s
\n2d 4h 55m 3s<\/p>\n

2
\nMr Kite II
\n0.995
\n75 NM
\n442 NM
\n8.7 kts
\n204 NM
\n18 Apr 18:38
\n2d 7h 38m 5s
\n2d 7h 21m 24s<\/p>\n

3
\nClockwork
\n1.030
\n61 NM
\n472 NM
\n9.0 kts
\n202 NM
\n18 Apr 16:45
\n2d 5h 45m 1s
\n2d 7h 21m 46s<\/p>\n

4
\nEquilibrium
\n1.059
\n77 NM
\n438 NM
\n8.7 kts
\n209 NM
\n18 Apr 18:55
\n2d 7h 55m 4s
\n2d 11h 13m 1s<\/p>\n

5
\nHigher Ground
\n0.888
\n169 NM
\n340 NM
\n6.7 kts
\n151 NM
\n19 Apr 11:10
\n3d 0h 10m 22s
\n2d 16h 5m 22s<\/p>\n

6
\nCarpe Diem
\n0.778
\n222 NM
\n282 NM
\n5.6 kts
\n114 NM
\n20 Apr 01:47
\n3d 14h 47m 24s
\n2d 19h 31m 21s<\/p>\n

7
\nAkonga
\n0.833
\n209 NM
\n299 NM
\n5.9 kts
\n120 NM
\n19 Apr 21:36
\n3d 10h 36m 0s
\n2d 20h 48m 21s<\/p>\n

Positions as at 18 Apr 10:00 \u2022 All boats started 16 Apr 11:00 \u2022 DTF = Distance to Finish \u2022 Corrected Elapsed = Est Elapsed \u00d7 Handicap<\/p>\n

Mr Kite II and Clockwork are virtually tied on corrected elapsed time, separated by just 22 seconds after nearly two days of racing. Nathan Williams\u2019 Cape 40 Mr Kite II sits 75 nautical miles from the finish, tucked in close to the coastline just off Tutukaka. Their morning report was brief: coming in hot. Equilibrium is 77 nautical miles out, also close to the Tutukaka coastline, just 2.2 nautical miles behind Mr Kite II on the water and currently in a close battle with them. Equilibrium\u2018s Botin\/Carkeek 55 crew reported a great night\u2019s sail, briefly touching 19 knots under A2 and full main, and noted a building tussle with Mr Kite II as the morning progressed. They plan to reduce sail for the final run home.<\/p>\n

\"ClockworkClockwork following Mr Kite II, in Waitemata Harbour \/\/ Photo credit: Roger Mills \/ Boating New Zealand
\nThe tracker anomaly<\/p>\n

One significant caveat hangs over the PHRF standings. Carpe Diem\u2018s YB tracker has been unreliable throughout the race, and the team is currently being tracked by AIS only. Rowan Smith\u2019s Elliott 1060 Carpe Diem sits third on corrected time on current data, ahead of Equilibrium, but their actual position is uncertain. When the fleet finishes and times are confirmed, Carpe Diem\u2018s final handicap position could shift. It is the anomaly that may yet define the result.<\/p>\n

The back three are heading home<\/p>\n

The last three boats Higher Ground, \u0100konga and Carpe Diem have all rounded the Three Kings Islands and turned for home, though they face a considerably longer journey back.<\/p>\n

Higher Ground had a rough and tumble ride to the Kings but is now on a beautiful run south. John Seely\u2019s crew are 169 nautical miles from the finish and, most importantly, are excited about stew for breakfast. On PHRF they sit fifth.<\/p>\n

– Advertisement, article continues below –<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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\n View Listing
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\u0100konga\u2018s night was the most eventful of the fleet. Around five miles from the Three Kings, the shackle on the head swivel of their roller furler broke, bringing the J1 to the deck. Nick Roberts\u2019 crew rounded the Islands under full mainsail and storm jib, fixed what they could, and have since hoisted the A2 for the run home. Repairing the shackle is on the list for today. It is a setback but the crew sound entirely composed. \u0100konga sits seventh on PHRF corrected time.<\/p>\n

Carpe Diem summed up their night in nine words: rough night bashing upwind, but we\u2019ve turned right. On AIS tracking they sit sixth on handicap, though that position remains subject to confirmation when the tracker situation resolves.<\/p>\n

\"\u0100konga\u0100konga at the start of the race \/\/ Photo credit: Roger Mills \/ Boating New Zealand
\nWhere things stand<\/p>\n

The first four boats are expected to finish today. On line honours the order heading into the final stretch is Clockwork, Mr Kite II, Equilibrium and Motorboat III. On handicap the order is Motorboat III, Mr Kite II, Clockwork, Equilibrium. With 22 seconds separating Mr Kite II and Clockwork on corrected time and Motorboat III\u2018s lead still to be defended over 84 nautical miles, this race is not over yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Clockwork says they will see us later today. Mr Kite II says they are coming in hot. Motorboat…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":384966,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[193530,111,43,139,69,142905,139986],"class_list":{"0":"post-384965","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-2026-three-kings-offshore-yacht-race","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz","13":"tag-sailing-yacht","14":"tag-sailing-yachts"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=384965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/384966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=384965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=384965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=384965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}