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