Sailing : Explore Racing Claims Victory in Thrilling Round North Island Race Leg 3

Explore Racing secures line honors in Leg 3 of the Doyle Sails Two Handed Round North Island Race, finishing the 220-nautical-mile sprint from Queen Charlotte Sound to Napier in 21 hours and 57 minutes. The Elliott 50ft crewed by William Goodfellow and Jesse Turner crosses the line just before 1100hrs on Tuesday. A brisk southerly wind of 14 to 18 knots greeted the sailors, creating a spirited Cook Strait crossing. As they surged north along the Wairarapa coast, the faster boats thrived in the conditions. The battle for second place heats up, with Damon Joliffe and Josh Tucker on Thompson 1150 Motorboat III holding off Sharon Ferris-Choat and Taylor Edwards on Verdier 40 Vixen Racing. Motorboat III finishes at 1320hrs, narrowly ahead of Vixen Racing. General Lee takes fourth, followed by Whichway. The next leg of the race runs from 28 February to 15 March 2026.