Pride of Kerikeri favoured by race conditions

Kerikeri's Deep Throttle will line up for the Auckland to Russell HSBC Premier Coastal Classic race in conditions she was made for.
The 30-foot Shaw 9 yacht is up against a competitive fleet in the annual event but the forecast conditions suit her perfectly, joint owner Justin Ferris of Kerikeri said.
"With the forecast the way it is looking, we're pretty excited," he said.
"There are supposed to be southwesterlies for the majority of the race of about 15-20 knots.
"That means spinnakers up from the start in those conditions and that's just what this boat has been designed for."
Deep Throttle would be up against the big boats racing in division one, such as the Australian-based 100-foot supermaxi Alfa Romeo - an obvious favourite for line honours at the Bay of Islands - but Ferris said he was hoping his boat would be into Russell by midnight tomorrow.
Division one also includes the new Georgia, launched last week for Auckland barrister, Jim Farmer QC. The 52-footer is a near sistership to the boat that Emirates Team New Zealand are racing so successfully in Europe, and is optimised for IRC racing.
While Deep Throttle is a recent entrant to the race scene, she will boast an experienced crew.
 Ferris returned from sailing in the Volvo Ocean Race on Puma, which finished second after nine months of racing in July. "I started [sailing] when I was  8 - and I'm now 34. I have probably done this race about 15-20 times - I know the course well," he said.
Since the Volvo Ocean Race, Ferris said he had been in the United States racing and the Coastal Classic would be his first big race in NZ since his return.
Sailing with him will be Kerikeri's Craig Gurnell, Mark Beauchamp, Tony Dalbeth (a co-owner with Richard Tingley and Ferris) and Tutukaka's Murray Soljak.
While Ferris was not so sure about beating Alfa Romeo across the line, he was confident the lightweight, fully carbon boat designed for harbour and coastal racing  would be in the mix with the 40-50 foot boats.
Also racing in division one from Northland is Black Panther, owned by Paihia's Jim White, Cotton Blossom II, owned by the Bay of Island's Doug and Vonnie France, along with Revs, owned by Chris Hornell from Opua.
Across  10 divisions, 14 boats have been entered into New Zealand's biggest coastal yacht race, which started 28 years ago as a drag race between Auckland and Russell.
 It has steadily attracted a bigger and more diverse fleet, consisting of grand prix racers, America's Cup boats, and small family cruisers.
About  205 entrants will set sail from Devonport Wharf at 10am tomorrow  and spectators in Russell could expect the first boats in around 5pm at Russell Wharf if the expected prime conditions prevail.