851. 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

852. 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

853. MANUKAU and vintage preserved steam tug WILLIAM C. DALDY (1935) stand by ready for the start gun.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7537

854. 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

855. 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

856. 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

857. 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

858. 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

859. 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

860. 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

861. 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

862. 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

863. 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

864. MAHIA and WAKA KUME astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7552

865. MANUKAU - her crew keep a close eye on the opposition.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7553

866. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7554

867. WAKA KUME bears away from MAHIA as they make toward the first mark
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7555

868. GLADIATOR makes her way to the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7556

869. GLADIATOR close astern of WILLIAM C. DALDY makes her way to the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7558

870. MANUKAU heads for the first mark off Narrow Neck Beach.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7559

871. MANUKAU makes her turn to round the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7560

872. 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

873. MANUKAU leads GLADIATOR, MAHIA, WAKA KUME and DALDY (obscured) seconds before rounding the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7563

874. MANUKAU closely leads GLADIATOR to the first mark as WAKA KUME and DALDY trail astern.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7564

875. 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

876. 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

877. GLADIATOR and MANUKAU round the first mark.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7567

878. GLADIATOR surges ahead into lump seas churned up by the leading members of the race fleet.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7569

879. GLADIATOR leads BONDI BELLE (1898) on the way to the second mark before the turn for home.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7570

880. 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

881. 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

882. 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

883. OLGA's passengers and crew take in the excitement of a mark rounding as WILLIAM C. DALDY closes on her stern.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7575

884. 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

885. 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

886. BONDI BELLE (1898) chased on the run to the finish line by SIERRA (1917).
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7580

887. 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

888. 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

889. TAMAKI passes GLADIATOR on the run home.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7583

890. TAMAKI and GLADIATOR slug it out on the run home trailed by MAHIA.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7584

891. GLADIATOR and TAMAKI in a toe-to-toe duel on the homeward stretch.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7585

892. 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

893. 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

894. MAHIA, WAKA KUME and MANUKAU trail WILLIAM C. DALDY on the final leg.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7588

895. 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

896. It's GLADIATOR's DICK DEADEYE and his weapon again!!! Duck!!!
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7590

897. GLADIATOR comes alongside WILLIAM C. DALDY as we pass No. 13 buoy, and press home their attack.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7591

898. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7592

899. GLADIATOR - the attack continues. Water bombs continue to rain down.
Date: 30 January 2012
Image ID 7593

900. 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

901. 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