ROUNDUP – VINTAGE & VETERANS RACING & CAKE DAY WITH PCC – 19th APRIL 2026

Sunday 19th April served up the full Auckland sampler platter: a “light breeze” that quickly upgraded itself to “hold onto your hat” and then went all-in with 25-knot gusts just to keep things interesting.

The PCC Vintage and Veterans fleet set off late morning, looking dignified and classic… and were promptly reminded that the weather hadn’t read the same script. Sails flapped, eyebrows raised, and a few “this will be character-building” comments were likely heard across the water.

Credit to the race committee, who clearly had one eye on the fleet and the other glued to the forecast. They hustled everyone home just ahead of the MetService’s promise of heavy rain and a proper thunderstorm show between 3:00 and 4:00pm. Impeccable timing—like threading a needle, but with boats and impending chaos.

By the time the sky finally threw its dramatic tantrum, crews were safely ashore, tucked into the warm Ponsonby clubrooms—dry, cheerful, and suddenly very hungry. What followed was the real main event: prizegiving, a buffet under serious pressure, and the legendary cake competition.

The chef barely had a moment to breathe as sailors transformed into enthusiastic food critics. Prizegiving rolled along with plenty of laughs, proving that everything feels like a win once you’re warm and well-fed.

And then—the cakes. Not just cakes. Engineering marvels. Edible art. Possibly structural hazards. Among the masterpieces, Mary Brooks took out the supreme award with a huge winch cake design—a creation so impressive it likely had better mechanics than some of the boats earlier in the day.

All in all: wind, drama, perfect timing, full stomachs, and cake-fueled glory. Classic Sunday.