751. FELICITARE gives GLADIATOR a good hose down during friendly sparring as they parade to the start line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7530
752. RONAKI built for Auckland Harbour Board (AHB) as MANUKAU sometime between 1911-1916 by Charles Bailey Jnr., leads GLADIATOR to the start line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7531
753. CURLEW - Skipper Cameron Pollard was later to take another look astern and see the rest of the fleet trailing in his wake as CURLEW takes line honours in the race. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7532
754. TE HAURAKI and CURLEW pass Devonport Wharf as they parade to the start line. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7533
755. TE HAURAKI, CURLEW (slightly obscured) and FELICITARE approaching the start box prior to the gun. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7534
756. AKARANA (1960) a former Auckland Harbour Board pilot launch, now fully restored to her original condition, officially fired the starting gun for the 2012 Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta tug race. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7535
757. WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935/348grt/IMO 5390345) - passengers (both local and international) were treated to an up-close tug racing experience aboard the vintage 76 year-old steam tug as she took part in... Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7536
758. MANUKAU and vintage preserved steam tug WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) stand by ready for the start gun. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7537
759. 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
760. 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
761. 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
762. 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
763. 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
764. 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
765. 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
766. 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
767. 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
768. 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
769. MAHIA and WAKA KUME astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7552
770. MANUKAU - her crew keep a close eye on the opposition. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7553
771. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7554
772. WAKA KUME bears away from MAHIA as they make toward the first mark Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7555
773. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7556
774. GLADIATOR close astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY makes her way to the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7558
775. MANUKAU heads for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7559
776. MANUKAU makes her turn to round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7560
777. 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
778. MANUKAU leads GLADIATOR, MAHIA, WAKA KUME and DALDY (obscured) seconds before rounding the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7563
779. MANUKAU closely leads GLADIATOR to the first mark as WAKA KUME and DALDY trail astern. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7564
780. 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
781. 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
782. GLADIATOR and MANUKAU round the first mark. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7567
783. GLADIATOR surges ahead into lump seas churned up by the leading members of the race fleet. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7569
784. GLADIATOR leads BONDI BELLE (1898) on the way to the second mark before the turn for home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7570
785. 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
786. 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
787. 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
788. 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
789. 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
790. 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
791. BONDI BELLE (1898) chased on the run to the finish line by SIERRA (1917). Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7580
792. 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
793. 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
794. TAMAKI passes GLADIATOR on the run home. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7583
795. TAMAKI and GLADIATOR slug it out on the run home trailed by MAHIA. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7584
796. GLADIATOR and TAMAKI in a toe-to-toe duel on the homeward stretch. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7585
797. 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
798. 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
799. MAHIA, WAKA KUME and MANUKAU trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the final leg. Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7588
800. 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
801. It's GLADIATOR's DICK DEADEYE and his weapon again!!! Duck!!! Date: 30 January 2012 Image ID 7590