Wraith II, the MOD70 trimaran previously known as Beau Geste and Snowflake, made an impressive return to New Zealand waters, coming within a whisker of the Balokovic Cup course record on the way to a commanding victory. Under the helm of Sean Vernon, the trimaran covered the 89-nautical-mile course in 5 hours, 44 minutes, and 22 seconds.
This article has been updated following confirmation of course records from the race organisers. The current course record continues to stand with TeamVodafoneSailing. In 2016, TeamVodafoneSailing was the first multihull home in just over 5 hours 35 minutes, while the Volvo 70 Giacomo, skippered by Jim Delegat, was the leading monohull in 8 hours 10 minutes.
The Multi One Design 70, or MOD70, was introduced in 2009 to create a tightly controlled, high-performance one-design offshore trimaran class. In 2023, Sam Goodchild nominated the MOD70 as the coolest and most innovative yacht of his time.
The third platform in the series was built by CDK Technologies to a VPLP design, launching in July 2011 as FONCIA for Michel Desjoyeaux. In the years that followed, the boat raced under the names Phaedo 3, Beau Geste, and Snowflake, accumulating an extraordinary record that few offshore multihulls can match. Victories and course records in the Brisbane to Gladstone Race, the RORC Transatlantic Race, and the Rolex China Sea Race all feature in its history. During Karl Kwok's ownership as Beau Geste, the boat set the record in the 2019 PIC Coastal Classic.
In early February 2026, Vernon brought Wraith II south from Tahiti to New Zealand single-handed ahead of a planned refit, and the passage tested both skipper and boat. The J1 was missing, the gennaker had delaminated, and hydraulic rigging issues required careful management throughout. Onboard weather data failed completely, leaving Vernon to rely on traditional navigation methods. Despite these setbacks, the trimaran regularly sailed between 19 and 24 knots, peaking at 36 knots after passing through Tonga. A brief stop in Vava'u allowed basic repairs before Wraith II resumed the voyage, arriving safely in New Zealand on 14 February.
With its near-record Balokovic Cup win secured, Wraith II will head into the yard for refit before continuing on to Brittany, adding another chapter to the story of one of the most accomplished MOD70 platforms ever built.
