Tauranga harbour is set to be a mass of bobbing P Class sails again today, competing in the second day of the Wihau Shield, which is considered to be one of the biggest trophies in New Zealand sailing.

Out amongst the competitors on the water is Tauranga's Harry Strang, age 12, sailing the legendary P942 X-Rated which once belonged to Peter Burling. Harry has recently been selected for the NZ sailing team destined for the 2024 Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championship in India this November.

There are 23 boats competing in the P Class regatta in Tauranga this weekend, mainly from Auckland and Tauranga, with a great day of sailing on Saturday.

The Secretaries Cup and Wihau Shield are both being held on Tauranga Harbour over the two days - May 4 and 5.

Wihau Shield - P class - 2024 Tauranga Cup, on Saturday, May 4, 2024 on the Tauranga harbour. Photo: Gary Smith.

Nathan Soper from Charteris Bay Yacht Club and Murrays Bay SC is leading the fleet after Day One.

"A light northwesterly of 8 to 10 knots kicked in around 1pm and we had four great races," says former Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club commodore Gary Smith in his race update.

"Hamish Brown from Wakatere won two races but dropped off in the second two."

Yachting NZ says the Wihau Shield, which is 13kg and measures 90cm x 70cm, was first sailed for in 1942 but disappeared off the calendar in 1998. For nearly 20 years, it sat under a bench at the Rotorua Yacht Club before it was revived.

Gary says it is now sailed as a Swap Boat series in Tauranga.

"After the first day's racing the top five sailors are selected to sail the Wihau Shield," says Gary.

Wihau Shield - P class - 2024 Tauranga Cup, on Saturday, May 4, 2024 on the Tauranga harbour. Photo: Gary Smith.

A unique feature of the event is the swapping of boats for the final, which is intended to level the playing field and tests a sailor’s ability to master different boats.

"On the second day, [today, Sunday], they will race four more races in each other's boat. The last race of Saturday counts as their first race as it is in their own boats."

The rest of the fleet sails for the Secretaries Cup.

Results on Sailwave.com