4451. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down but at very close quarters as she edged ever closer. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7594
4452. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7593
4453. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7592
4454. GLADIATOR comes alongside WILLIAM C. DALDY as we pass No. 13 buoy, and press home their attack. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7591
4455. It's GLADIATOR's DICK DEADEYE and his weapon again!!! Duck!!! Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7590
4456. MAHIA, WAKA KUME, MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE (1898) and SIERRA (1917, far distance) trail WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) on the run to the finish. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7589
4457. MAHIA, WAKA KUME and MANUKAU trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the final leg. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7588
4458. GLADIATOR, stretching away from TAMAKI now eyes up WILLIAM C. DALDY for attack as passengers were about to discover when they were pelted with catapult-launched water-filled balloons. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7587
4459. GLADIATOR begins to get the upper hand as she slightly stretches away from TAMAKI. MAHIA and WAKA KUME chase hard. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7586
4460. GLADIATOR and TAMAKI in a toe-to-toe duel on the homeward stretch. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7585
4461. TAMAKI and GLADIATOR slug it out on the run home trailed by MAHIA. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7584
4462. TAMAKI passes GLADIATOR on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7583
4463. DICK DEADEYE - and on the homeward run the fun began. Crew members aboard GLADIATOR launched an all-out attack on any vessel they came near firing barrages of water-filled balloons at their hapless... Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7582
4464. DICK DEADEYE- and on the homeward run the fun began. Crew members aboard GLADIATOR launched an all-out attack on any vessel they came near firing barrages of water-filled balloons at their hapless... Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7581
4465. BONDI BELLE (1898) chased on the run to the finish line by SIERRA (1917). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7580
4466. Two of the race's smaller, older entrants BONDI BELLE (1898) and SIERRA (1917) chase WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7579
4467. Passengers aboard WILLIAM C. DALDY at the second mark watch as GLADIATOR surges alongside followed by MANUKAU . Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7578
4468. MAHIA rounds the second mark and safety boat ahead of MANUKAU (almost out of pic at right) and WAKA KUME (left). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7577
4469. MAHIA heads WAKA KUME (obscured) and BONDI BELLE (1898). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7576
4470. OLGA's passengers and crew take in the excitement of a mark rounding as WILLIAM C. DALDY close on her stern. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7575
4471. Passengers at the bow of WILLIAM C. DALDY get a grandstand view as the steam tug follows OLGA, WAIPAPA and TAMAKI to the second mark. The volcanic cone of Rangitoto Island looms ahead of the fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7574
4472. Passengers aboard WILLIAM C. DALDY watch closely as she closes on the stern of OLGA. TAMAKI is seen ahead about to round the second mark and head for home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7573
4473. GLADIATOR closes on the stern of WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) followed by MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE (1898, left) and WAKA KUME. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7572
4474. GLADIATOR gives her crew an exciting ride as she leads SIERRA to the second mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7571
4475. GLADIATOR leads BONDI BELLE (1898) on the way to the second mark before the turn for home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7570
4476. GLADIATOR surges ahead into lump seas churned up by the leading members of the race fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7569
4477. GLADIATOR leads MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE (1898), SIERRA (1917) and WAKA KUME at the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7568
4478. GLADIATOR and MANUKAU round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7567
4479. WAIPAPA, much more manoeuvrable, comes up the on the inside running rounding the mark ahead of MANUKAU and MAHIA. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7566
4480. GLADIATOR closes out MANUKAU at they reach the first mark of the race. Two of the race's smaller contenders, BONDI BELLE (1898) and SIERRA (1917) begin to mark their mark and close down on their... Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7565
4481. MANUKAU closely leads GLADIATOR to the first mark as WAKA KUME and DALDY trail astern. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7564
4482. MANUKAU leads GLADIATOR, MAHIA, WAKA KUME and DALDY (obscured) seconds before rounding the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7563
4483. MANUKAU chased closely by GLADIATOR close on the marker buoy at the end of the first leg of the race. DALDY can be seen at left with still a good distance to travel. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7561
4484. MANUKAU makes her turn to round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7560
4485. MANUKAU heads for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7559
4486. GLADIATOR close astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7558
4487. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7556
4488. WAKA KUME bears away from MAHIA as they make toward the first mark Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7555
4489. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7554
4490. MANUKAU - her crew keep a close eye on the opposition. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7553
4491. MAHIA and WAKA KUME astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7552
4492. WAKA KUME (2000/338grt/IMO 9212084) take their time to pounce on the rest of the fleet as they trail astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7551
4493. GLADIATOR - Originally built in Auckland this steel hulled tug has served her time mainly in the Pacific Islands and is a near sister to Thomson Towing's MANUKAU. Her crew were to later prove their... Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7550
4494. DALDY (1977/226grt/IMO 7519127) positions herself off William C. Daldy's starboard side as we all make for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7549
4495. DALDY (1977/226grt/IMO 7519127) positions herself off William C. Daldy's starboard side as we all make for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7548
4496. Heron Construction's PACIFIC WAY (1960/111grt/IMO 5242952, ex-MOUNT MAUNGANUI, SOUTHERN ALPHA at left) and MANUKAU battle it out as they head for the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7547
4497. WAIPAPA leads the fleet ahead of steam tug WILLIAM C. DALDY as we make for the first mark of Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7546
4498. HAMAL, DALDY, MAHIA and GLADIATOR line up to port of WILLIAM C. DALDY as the fleet pass North Head and bear down on the first mark of Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7545
4499. HAMAL (1976/95 tons displacement) a 67ft steel trawler-type vessel, launched in Whangarei, powers alongside William C. Daldy in the "washtub" wakes of the tug race fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7544
4500. WAIPAPA, DALDY and GLADIATOR (obscured) close on the sterns of MANUKAU and PACIFIC WAY moments after the start gun. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7543
4501. HAMAL at full speed, astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY as the tugs surge away from the start line. WAKA KUME is lagging behind the fleet but soon caught up. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7542