It’s been a busy year for the much-loved Kayimai and her crew, with racing both at home, as part of the Pittwater Regatta, and more recently away, at some of the major northern race weeks, including Hamilton Island Race week and Magnetic Island Race week.

Joint owners of the Azuree 46, Peter Byford (RPAYC member) and Rob Aldis (RPAYC member and Commodore MHYC) and their crew had a successful campaign onboard Kayimai during the Hamilton Island Race week, securing a 1st place finish in ORC and 2nd PHS in the Pink Division.

Kayimai continued north to compete in the Magnetic Island Race Week where she claimed 4th place in Division 1, just behind Darryl Hodgkinson’s  Carkeek 40, Victoire (CYCA). Kayimai was also awarded the “Spirit of Maggie” perpetual trophy, named in memory of Peter Lowndes’ partner, Sarah Goddard-Jones, who tragically died in a diving accident when they were on their way to Magnetic Island in 2019. On receiving the award, Byford stated, “it was very special for Kayimai to receive” as throughout the regatta, Kayimai had been in close competition with Wine Dark Sea, a Lyons 49 owned by Peter Lowndes himself.

The crew onboard Kayimai, for this year’s northern campaign were a combination of RPAYC and MHYC members. The crew also sailed on Conspiracy, a Sydney 38 (owned by Peter) and Khaleesi, a DK 46 (owned by Rob), and included the likes of Allen Stormon, Martin Cross and his son John, Peter’s son Tim Byford, David Hudson (Co-owner of Conspiracy), Annie Taylor, Trevor Hannah, JP Seear, Robert Speeds, Bob Stoddard and Claire Wood.

The recent northern campaign successes provide a perfect ending to ownership of Kayimai for Peter and Rob with the boat now on it’s way to a new home in New Zealand. Peter stated, “Kayimai has been a fantastic boat for Rob and I. We have great crew of RPAYC and MHYC sailors who enjoy having fun and trying to sail competitively”.

Peter and Rob have since purchased a new boat and are headed to France to collect her. Next week they will be sailing Daguet2, a Mylius 50 design, in the Voiles de Saint Tropez from 29 September – 8 October, under the burgee of RPAYC. Peter says, “We will have a number of RPAYC members on board including my two sons Ben and Tim and Juliet Constanza. [I am] Looking forward to some great sailing in France”. Event website https://www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr/en