51. MANUKAU closely leads GLADIATOR to the first mark as WAKA KUME and DALDY trail astern. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7564
52. GLADIATOR closes out MANUKAU at they reach the first mark of the race. Two of the race's smaller contenders, BONDI BELLE and SIERRA begin to mark their mark and close down on their larger rivals. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7565
53. 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
54. GLADIATOR and MANUKAU round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7567
55. GLADIATOR surges ahead into lump seas churned up by the leading members of the race fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7569
56. GLADIATOR leads BONDI BELLE on the way to the second mark before the turn for home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7570
57. GLADIATOR closes on the stern of WILLIAM C. DALDY followed by MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE (left) and WAKA KUME. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7572
58. 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
59. 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
60. 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
61. 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
62. Two of the race's smaller, older entrants BONDI BELLE and SIERRA chase WILLIAM C. DALDY on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7579
63. BONDI BELLE (1896) chased on the run to the finish line by SIERRA (1917). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7580
64. 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
65. 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
66. TAMAKI passes GLADIATOR on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7583
67. TAMAKI and GLADIATOR slug it out on the run home trailed by MAHIA. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7584
68. GLADIATOR and TAMAKI in a toe-to-toe duel on the homeward stretch. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7585
69. 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
70. 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
71. MAHIA, WAKA KUME and MANUKAU trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the final leg. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7588
72. MAHIA, WAKA KUME, MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE and SIERRA (far distance) trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the run to the finish. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7589
73. It's GLADIATOR's DICK DEADEYE and his weapon again!!! Duck!!! Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7590
74. GLADIATOR comes alongside WILLIAM C. DALDY as we pass No. 13 buoy, and press home their attack. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7591
75. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7592
76. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7593
77. 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
78. GLADIATOR - the attack subsides, GLADIATOR realising they are running out of searoom as WILLIAM C. DALDY with right-of-way, round No. 15 buoy and head to the finish line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7595
79. GLADIATOR - bounces off the stern quarter of WILLIAM C. DALDY after running out of searoom when the former rounded No. 15 buoy. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7596
80. GLADIATOR is stopped dead by No 15 buoy. The onslaught is over. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7597
81. GLADIATOR backs off No. 15 buoy to continue the chase. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7598
82. GLADIATOR, no worse for her close encounter with No. 15 buoy, chases William C. Daldy to the line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7599
83. MAHIA takes a close-up look at the light blue paint left on WILLIAM C. DALDY's stern quarter rubbing strip. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7600
84. MAHIA takes a close-up look at the light blue paint left on WILLIAM C. DALDY's stern quarter rubbing strip. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7601
85. MAHIA's crew take a close-up look at WILLIAM C. Dlady as they pass close by. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7602
86. GLADIATOR - Originally built in Auckland this steel hulled tug has served her time mainly in the Pacific Islands. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7514
87. GLADIATOR leads MANUKAU, BONDI BELLE, SIERRA and WAKA KUME at the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7568
88. GLADIATOR gives her crew an exciting ride as she leads SIERRA to the second mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7571
89. Passengers aboard WILLIAM C. DALDY at the second mark watch as GLADIATOR surges alongside followed by MANUKAU . Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7578
90. 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
91. MAHIA heads WAKA KUME (obscured) and BONDI BELLE. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7576
92. 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
93. We're off!!! Passengers get an up-close view as WILLIAM C. DALDY leads WAIPAPA, PACIFIC WAY (yellow/black) TAMAKI, MAHIA and GLADIATOR (obscured) across the start line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7541
