Mayhem has long been one of New Zealand's most competitive offshore racers, and this year's result reflects the crew's tenacity and collective resolve. The race got underway at 1000 hrs on Friday 24 October, with Mayhem pushing straight toward the front of the fleet and slotting into the lead pack alongside Wired, Callisto, and Lucky.
Progress through the course was tracked at the key waypoints. The fleet reached Flat Rock at 1304 hrs and Sail Rock at 1711 hrs, by which point Mayhem had already moved firmly into podium contention.
As darkness settled over the Northland coast, the racing grew tighter. Mayhem and Wired swapped positions repeatedly through the evening, both boats pegged at 6.4 knots as the breeze eased and the tactical contest became as much a waiting game as a sailing one.
The wind returned near Cape Brett, and Mayhem responded without hesitation, surging forward to round the Cape at 5:10 a.m. before pressing on to Russell.
For a yacht capable of considerably higher speeds, much of this race demanded something harder to locate than raw pace: patience. Long stretches of light air put the crew's focus and discipline to the test through the night. Mayhem delivered when it counted, arriving at the dock in Russell determined, smiling, and with a strong result to show for their efforts.
