The Young 88s is always the largest one design keelboat fleet at Bay of Islands Sailing Week and this year they broke their own record with nine boats. The close racing attracts world class sailors – for 2020, Gavin Brady with his inevitably named Brady Bunch on his newly purchased Slipstream III handed the rest of the fleet a sailing lesson as they took every gun.

In one-design, line finish is everything, but those not in the Brady Bunch reckoned that since they couldn’t beat Brady anyway, a second place counted as first; a third, as second.

This year the Young 88s had a gentleman’s agreement that all boats sail with second-best sails and cruising gear onboard, a saving in money and logistics which undoubtedly helped to attract nine boats – including a group of youngsters who travelled from Lyttelton to sail with skipper Isaac Armstrong on Undercover.

The daily format was two windward-leeward races followed by a harbour course which in the Bay of Islands doubles as a scenic cruise. On day one, the race committee indulged the hint from Young 88 class president Mike Leyland that it had been a long time since the Young 88s had been to the Ninepin. With little wind in the sails, it was a long kite ride home but wind changes kept the tactics challenging and enough place changes to demonstrate yet again why the Young 88’s one-design attracts rock star sailors.

Brady didn’t have it all his way, incurring a protest from Michael Naulls’s Sailor Moon on day two, which saw both boats disqualified. That handed first place on line to Sweeney Todd, which eventually translated to second place overall ahead of Sailor Moon in third.

The class handicap system rewards crews punching above their weight. Phil Rzepecky’s Medium Dry took top spot on handicap, followed by Carl Webster’s Nona and the puppies from Lyttelton on Undercover finished third.

Rebecca Hayter - War Machine

Photo Credits: LiveSailDie, Bay of Islands Sailing Week Media, Young 88 Media