101. WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) - Tension mounts on the bridge of the vintage steam tug as the seconds count down to the gun. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7538
102. We're off!!! WILLIAM C. DALDY leads WAIPAPA, PACIFIC WAY (yellow/black) TAMAKI, MAHIA and GLADIATOR (obscured) across the start line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7540
103. 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
104. 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
105. 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
106. 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
107. 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
108. 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
109. 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
110. 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
111. MAHIA and WAKA KUME astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7552
112. MANUKAU - her crew keep a close eye on the opposition. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7553
113. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7554
114. WAKA KUME bears away from MAHIA as they make toward the first mark Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7555
115. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7556
116. GLADIATOR close astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7558
117. MANUKAU heads for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7559
118. MANUKAU makes her turn to round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7560
119. 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
120. MANUKAU leads GLADIATOR, MAHIA, WAKA KUME and DALDY (obscured) seconds before rounding the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7563
121. MANUKAU closely leads GLADIATOR to the first mark as WAKA KUME and DALDY trail astern. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7564
122. 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
123. 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
124. GLADIATOR and MANUKAU round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7567
125. GLADIATOR surges ahead into lump seas churned up by the leading members of the race fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7569
126. GLADIATOR leads BONDI BELLE (1898) on the way to the second mark before the turn for home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7570
127. 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
128. 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
129. 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
130. 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
131. 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
132. 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
133. BONDI BELLE (1898) chased on the run to the finish line by SIERRA (1917). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7580
134. 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
135. 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
136. TAMAKI passes GLADIATOR on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7583
137. TAMAKI and GLADIATOR slug it out on the run home trailed by MAHIA. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7584
138. GLADIATOR and TAMAKI in a toe-to-toe duel on the homeward stretch. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7585
139. 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
140. 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
141. MAHIA, WAKA KUME and MANUKAU trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the final leg. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7588
142. 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
143. It's GLADIATOR's DICK DEADEYE and his weapon again!!! Duck!!! Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7590
144. GLADIATOR comes alongside WILLIAM C. DALDY as we pass No. 13 buoy, and press home their attack. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7591
145. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7592
146. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7593
147. 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
148. 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
149. 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
150. GLADIATOR is stopped dead by No 15 buoy. The onslaught is over. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7597
151. GLADIATOR backs off No. 15 buoy to continue the chase. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7598
