Day 1 of the Bay of Islands Sailing Week in Opua brought sunny skies, steady breezes, and thrilling action across nine divisions. Each fleet showcased a unique mix of competition, with boats and skippers making their mark from the outset.
Open Division A
In Open Division A, the highlight was undoubtedly Sassinate, skippered by Mikayla Plaw. This Melges 40 dominated the day, claiming Line Honours in all three races with a combination of blistering speed and tactical precision. Plaw’s crew put on a masterclass, and their flawless performance earned them the top spot in the series standings with just two points. Meanwhile, Clockwork, a Shaw 12 helmed by Steve Mair, kept up the chase, and Menace, Howard Spencer’s Melges 40, showed its class, particularly in tight corners. While Sassinate led on PHRF Handicap, Alegre, skippered by Vaughn Clark, stood out under EHC Handicap with their ability to capitalise on shifting conditions.
Young 88 Division
The Young 88 Division saw Young Magic, skippered by Matthew Mason, claim Line Honours in all three races. The Young 88 design thrives on crew coordination, and the Mason team was flawless, setting them apart from the competition. Heartlight, led by Roger Sims, made its presence felt with strong showings on the handicap tables.
Sports Division
In the highly competitive Sports Boats Division, the day belonged to Animal Biscuits, skippered by Craig Partridge. The Shaw surged to victory in the second and third races after Angry Dragon, Tom Kiff’s Elliott 7, claimed the first. Partridge’s consistent performance put his team in the series lead, but Kiff kept them on their toes throughout. On EHC Handicap, W8-UP, a Magic 25 helmed by Mike Hindrup, and Weapon of Choice, an Houghton/Dibley 7.5 skippered by Phil Houghton, made their mark.
Flying 15 Division
The Flying 15 Division provided close racing, thanks to the one-design nature of the fleet. Unknown, skippered by Ben Lowe, emerged as the leader after three races. Lowe showed excellent consistency, keeping ahead of Ffrenetic, helmed by Murray Gilbert, and The GodFfather, skippered by Sally Garret. The small keelboats made for dramatic finishes as skippers battled for every inch of water.
Island Racing Division B, Spinnaker
The Island Racing Divisions delivered a mix of long-haul tactics and boat-handling skill. In Division B, Tongue Twister, Brian Hutching’s Lambert/Beau 28, clinched Line Honours with impressive straight-line speed. However, Men at Work, a Thompson 850 helmed by Hans Wehmeyer, used smart tactics to take the lead on handicap.
Island Racing Division C, Spinnaker
Division C saw Deep Purple, a Shaw 750t skippered by Philip Hart, dominate Line Honours, while Blarzay, Craig Gardner’s Ross 940, took the top spot on EHC Handicap.
Island Racing Division D, Spinnaker
In Division D, The Racoon, a Shaw 550 skippered by Buddha Smith, claimed both Line Honours and EHC Handicap. Meanwhile, Black Magic, David Kreb’s Noelex 25, led the fleet on PHRF Handicap, showcasing the division’s competitive depth.
Island Racing Division, No-Spinnaker
The No-Spinnaker Division added its own flair to the regatta, with Zindabar, an Elliot 1850 skippered by Anthony Browne, leading the charge on Line Honours. However, it was Golden Pond, a Hanse 400e helmed by Kevin Stone, that topped the EHC Handicap standings. Their win came after a tight battle with LongFellow, a Warwick 66 skippered by Kyle Bryant, highlighting the close margins in this division.

Day 1 wrapped up with notable performances from standout boats like Sassinate, Young Magic, and Animal Biscuits, all of which established themselves as the ones to watch. Mikayla Plaw’s crew on Sassinate demonstrated textbook sailing at the highest level, while Matthew Mason’s Young Magic set the pace in the Young 88 fleet. The diversity of the regatta was also on full display, from the high-performance Sports Boats to the close racing in the Flying 15 fleet and the tactical brilliance in the Island Racing divisions.
As the regatta continues, the big question is whether these early leaders can maintain their form or if challengers like Steve Mair’s Clockwork or Hans Wehmeyer’s Men at Work will rise to the occasion. Day 2 promises even more intense racing, as skippers and crews push their boats to the limit in one of New Zealand’s premier sailing events.