Local Knowledge

Q Ships

The Quantum Challenge, an annual 126nm trek down the east coast of New Zealand between the cities of Auckland and Tauranga commenced at 10am this morning NZST. The race is one of the most challenging on the circuit and going into New Zealand’s winter it can throw up tricky conditions, especially around the top of the Coromandel. This year, however, no more than 15 knots is forecast and the fleet started in very light breeze with around 10 knots building behind them as they left Auckland.

However, into the race they've already had one crew lifted off an 8.5m multihull, and reportedly a broken rig on a Thompson 8.5 called Waka, which up until this summer was a west coast boat called Go Dog Go.

The current race records are held by the multihull Sundreamer (pictured), at 9:55.23, and monohull Zana Konica Minolta, at 9:35.01. Sundreamer is a 1970s vintage yet still manages to hold her own against her biggest rival, a high-tech 55 footer X-Factor in heavy conditions. A number of small and very light new-generation multihulls also have the potential to do well.

The line honours favourites in the keelboat fleet are Sportivo, a very capable 50ft Greg Elliott designed downwind boat with a retractable prod, lifting canting keel and rotating wing mast which was launched last February. However, it was the new Cookson 50 Pussy Galore was leading the keelboats out of Auckland a few miles from the start, and Exodus in front overall. We anticipate a race where the lead changes many times over today.

The colourful boat is ‘Prism’, one of New Zealand’s originalmatchracing class which has been converted to a coastal racer. There is a pretty good regular updates page for the race that is worth a look too.

Cheers
Zoe