Elliott 5.9: Southern Circuit wraps up in Picton

Final round of the Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit - Queen Charlotte YC © Elliott 5.9

The final round of the Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit took place over the weekend of March 9th and 10th in Picton. The event was hosted by the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club.

This event, the third and final event in the Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit, attracted sailors from as far away as Christchurch to take on the challenging conditions and tight racing.

Saturday's Races: Saturday's conditions presented sailors with a shifty easterly breeze ranging from 15 to 28 knots, keeping the fleet on their toes as they navigated through gusts and shifts. Despite the challenging conditions, the fleet showcased their skills with multiple lead changes and close racing. Highlights included a few wipeouts and a dramatic moment when Eagle lost their main sheet hand overboard but managed to recover and maintain their lead. Three races were completed on Saturday, testing the sailors' endurance and tactical abilities.

Sunday's Races: Sunday brought a change in wind direction, with a northwesterly breeze ranging from 12 to 20 knots. The shifty conditions created passing lanes around the course, leading to intense and competitive racing. Sailors enjoyed close battles and multiple lead changes throughout the three-lap races, with the entire fleet finishing each race within minutes of each other.

Final Results: Shane Smith demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency, winning five out of the six races to claim first place overall. Mark Howard on Eagle secured second place by a narrow margin, edging ahead of Andrew McFarlane on Retro by just one point. Seamus Tredinnick, sailing Magpie with a borrowed mast, had a commendable performance, finishing only two points behind Retro in fourth place. Garry on Erotic showed improvement throughout the weekend, closing the gap to the fleet.

Southern Series Wrap-Up: The Southern Circuit series results mirrored the weekend's placings, with Shane Smith on Boat 1 claiming first, followed by Mark Howard on Eagle in second, However Seamus Tredwick managed to pip Andrew McFarlane on Retro for third overall by just one point. The series concluded with the fleet enjoying epic racing on the water and some great social events off the water, showcasing the camaraderie and sportsmanship within the class.

Next Season: As the current season wraps up, anticipation builds for the next season, which kicks off with the first event at Lake Aviemore in October. The rest of the series dates will be released soon.

Results can be found here https://elliott59.weebly.com/results.html Follow results and pictures online www.facebook.com/elliott5.9 and for more information on the Elliott 5.9 Class Association visit www.e59.org.nz

About The Elliott 5.9 The Elliott 5.9 emerged in the early 1980’s as a high performing trailer yacht and continues to deliver competitive one design racing in a welcoming fleet of world-class sailors and novices alike. The boats started a revolution with their well-balanced and cost effective design, and quickly become the boat of choice for top club training schemes and a breeding ground for NZ’s America’s Cup, Ocean Race and Olympic champions. Sailed by a crew of three, the Elliott 5.9 remains a low maintenance sailboat with an efficient single spreader fractional rig, a well-balanced sail plan and practical deck layout. Whether sailing among mixed trailer yachts, sport boat fleets or in a one design setting, the 5.9 is celebrated for its responsiveness and outstanding value.