Lyttelton Regatta

The inaugural Inter-Island Regatta held in Lyttelton over Canterbury Anniversary Weekend 16-18 November attracted 23 keelboats.
The Royal Port Nicholson yacht club fleet kicked things off with a short-handed race from Wellington to Lyttelton the previous week. The 11 boat fleet was blessed with a fresh northerly for much of the trip. All the boats finished within 32 hours. Andiamo (Davidson 55) was first home in an elapsed time of 21 hours 50 minutes which is close to a record.



21 Boats from Wellington, Akaroa and Lyttelton faced the starter for the first race on Friday 16th. The series consisted of 7 races over 3 days with a mix of windward-leeward harbour racing and ocean courses on the waters of Pegasus Bay.
The weekend was blessed with 3 days of light to moderate steady easterlies and fine weather.
The racing was as competitive as expected and general recalls were common given the combination of testosterone and ebbing tide carrying boats up to the line.

Delays with getting the Canterbury boats measured meant the IRC division consisted mainly of Wellington boats and Mike Calkoen’s Young 11 Flying Boat won the Canterbury Regatta Cup.

The general Handicap/PHRF division redressed the balance with Ian Franklin at the helm of Southern Fun (Davidson 36) taking the honours.

Overall Line Honours went to Brendan Hogg’s Pretty Boy Floyd which beat Andrew Taylor driving Andiamo (Davidson 55) in 6 of seven races – a reversal of the usual Wellington order.



The combination of good breezes, sunshine and abundant hospitality meant a group of very tired Wellington crews set sail north late on Sunday afternoon for the journey home.
Everyone is looking forward to a re-match at the Wellington Line 7 Regatta in February 2008 and the next Lyttelton event.

Detailed Results can found here Results