Reggae Shark won the Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series Round Three at Whitianga this weekend (1-2 August), pulling back a two-point overnight deficit to overhaul Revelry across four Sunday races and take the regatta on 20 points to Revelry's 25.
Eight boats made the trip to Mercury Bay, and the conditions did not disappoint. Clear winter skies and sunshine greeted the fleet across both days, with breeze that started light each morning before building into solid racing conditions.
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Saturday took a while to get underway while the fleet waited for the wind to settle, but six races followed once it did, building steadily to around 15 knots. Reggae Shark drew first blood in Race 1, with Slam Dunk second and Revelry third. Revelry hit back immediately, winning Races 2, 3, and 6, while Reggae Shark took Race 5. Race 4 results were unclear. By the end of Saturday, Revelry held a slim two-point lead over Reggae Shark, with Bloodline third overnight on 22 points.
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Sunday started light again and built through the morning. Revelry won Race 7 to extend their lead, but Reggae Shark answered in Race 8, taking the win ahead of Dirty Circus. Zoot Allures took Race 9 with Reggae Shark second, and Slam Dunk closed out the regatta winning Race 10 ahead of Revelry and Reggae Shark. When the points were tallied, Reggae Shark's consistent Sunday scoring had eaten through Revelry's lead, with the seven-point margin in their favour enough to seal the regatta.
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Go Boating NZ watched from the foreshore. Mercury Bay on a clear winter's day is a hard place to fault.
Two rounds remain in the 2026 series. Russell hosts Round Four on 12-13 September, with Sandspit closing out the season on 17-18 October.
Full results are on the Elliott 5.9 Class website. Earlier rounds at Lake Rotoiti and Marsden Cove are also covered.
Did you know?
Greg Elliott never drew formal plans for the 5.9. He lofted the lines full size on his boat shop floor, the old-fashioned way, before a single boat was built.
