Crusader on a crusade

CHRISTCHURCH SAILOR ANTHONY LEIGHS has scored another international, offshore victory in his black fantastic, Elliott 35SS Crusader with his team of merry men: navigator Chris Maddock, mainsheet trimmer Josh Tucker, trimmer James Glidden, pitman and boat captain Brett Elliott, and team manager and bowman Nick Bastow.

When he commissioned Crusader, designed by Elliott Marine and built by Yachting Developments, Auckland, Leighs wanted to up his game and pick up international trophies.

After winning the 600-mile Groupama Race in New Caledonia against one of France’s best sailors, Franck Cammas, the Crusader crew finished the 2225-mile Transpac ocean race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii with the fastest elapsed time for boats under 36ft. Crusader also won the Triangle Offshore Series based in the South Island, New Zealand.

Starting with much larger 46 to 52ft boats in Transpac Division 4 with a three-day handicap given to boats of similar size and smaller, Crusader fought an gruelling, 11-day race. Despite being hampered by a bowsprit that would not retract due to damage, Crusader finished with the big boys in her allocated division.

Pre-race preparation was significantly hindered by a large power cut to Long Beach; services were curtailed, Internet access unavailable and the team were unable to charge key navigational equipment. A cyclone approaching from the south was set to cross the course.

Roy Disney, who has done 20 Transpacs, was quoted as saying it was the most unusual weather pattern predicted for the race that he had seen. Knowing that ultimately the race would be very much a real navigator’s race, the Crusader crew packed by torchlight.

Crusader’s navigator had planned to chase the cyclone for a slingshot to Hawaii but a change in conditions saw him resetting the course to stay north in more settled, lighter trade winds. After Catalina Island the breeze softened dramatically to 4-6 knots, followed by big squalls of up to 30 knots of breeze – Crusader was cutting through pitch-black nights sitting on 20-24 knots.

CENTRE: Crusader’s Crusader experienced the agony of light airs and the thrill of heavy airs while taking best elapsed time in its division. Nick Bastow is on the helm with skipper Anthony Leighs to his left. Photo: Josh Tucker INSET: Crusader’s crew after winning the 2014 Groupama Race, New Caledonia.