Round North Island Two Handed Race

Half a Century of Double-Handed Racing Around the North Island

Sir Peter Blake set the wheels in motion in 1977. Forty-nine years later, the Round North Island Two Handed Race remains the must-do event in New Zealand offshore sailing—a test where two sailors, one boat, and 1,210 nautical miles stand between dream and achievement.

Deep Roots in Kiwi Sailing History

The idea was crazy for its time: circumnavigate the North Island with a crew of just two. Yet that was the challenge thrown down by Peter Blake and Martin Foster in the inaugural edition, organized by Devonport Yacht Club. Forty-four boats at the start, thirty-nine at the finish, and Blake himself taking the win. The standard was set.

Since then, the race has changed hands—it's now run by the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand (SSANZ)—and is sailed under IRC handicap, ensuring fairness between boats of different designs. But the DNA hasn't changed: endurance, resourcefulness, mental toughness.

Proven Adaptability

The 2023 edition is proof of that. In the face of devastation from Cyclone Gabrielle, SSANZ redesigned the course at the last minute to allow the race to go ahead. Crisis management that left its mark and strengthened the organization's credibility.

1,210 Miles in Four Acts

The 2026 edition set off on 28 February with arrival scheduled for 15 March. The course, run anti-clockwise, starts and finishes in Auckland (Waitematā Harbour). Four legs, four faces of New Zealand's seas.

The Four Legs of the Course

• Leg 1—Auckland → Mangonui (154 nm): the shortest, a sprint up the east coast heading north
• Leg 2—Mangonui → Queen Charlotte Sound: rounding Cape Reinga, then down the west coast and the Tasman Sea to Waikawa—the most challenging leg
• Leg 3—Waikawa → Napier: heading northeast across the Cook Strait
• Leg 4—Napier → Auckland: return through the Hauraki Gulf for the grand finale

A Tough Opening

The start, fired at 10:00 on Saturday 28 February, pulled no punches. An easterly flow forced crews to sail upwind straight out of the harbour, before they could ease sheets off North Head. The first leg to Mangonui promised wind and chop—an immediate test for gear and nerves.

The Key Role of Stopovers

Mangonui, Waikawa, Napier: these three stopovers aren't tourism. Over a two-week race, they allow crews to recover physically, repair damage, and maintain that legendary camaraderie between competitors. The organizers consider them structural to the safety of the format.

Twenty-Six Boats, Fifty-Two Sailors, Zero Specialists

The two-handed format tolerates no weakness. No dedicated helmsman, no dedicated tactician, no pitman. Every sailor must do everything: navigation, trimming, manoeuvres, mechanics, sleep and food management. Fifty-two sailors spread across twenty-six boats—the fleet reached maximum capacity well before the start, confirming the race's status as a bucket-list event for Kiwi sailors.

The Cards Reshuffled for 2026

The Absent and the Returning

Andrew Duff and Chris Bassett, winners in 2023 aboard Wired, aren't defending their title. The field is wide open.

The strongest contender? Bruce Gault on Whichway. Second on PHRF handicap in 2023—less than an hour behind the winner—he returns this year with Craig McMillan alongside and a clear ambition: to claim the victory that slipped through his fingers by so little.

First Mechanical Casualty

The cruelty of the ocean didn't wait. Akonga, a Dehler 41 sailed by Nick Roberts and Max Livingston, had to retire shortly after the start with steering cable failure. A brutal reminder: in this type of race, equipment reliability matters as much as speed.

Doyle Sails as Title Sponsor: Sails as a Tactical Weapon

The partnership with Doyle Sails is more than a logo on promotional materials. The New Zealand sailmaker places technology at the heart of this edition, showcasing its custom sails and high-performance design expertise. On a course where conditions vary dramatically—between the sheltered east coast and the exposed Tasman Sea—the choice of sail wardrobe becomes a determining performance factor.

A Growing Event

Media coverage has stepped up a level. Outlets like Live Sail Die, Boating New Zealand, and Yachting New Zealand provide real-time coverage with photo galleries, tactical analysis, and updated results. The RNI is establishing itself more firmly with each edition as one of the major events on the Southern Hemisphere sailing calendar.

Find the complete calendar of major offshore races at spencer.club.

Against the Elements, Against Yourself

Beyond IRC standings and podiums, the Round North Island remains a deeply personal affair. For many of these amateur or semi-professional sailors, completing this lap of the North Island represents a lifetime goal. 1,210 miles with two crew, over two weeks, with only a reliable boat and a trusted crewmate as allies—it's this human dimension that makes the RNI far more than a line on a résumé.