Start of the Wellington to Lyttelton yacht race on 23 January 1951.

1951 wellington lyttelton yacht race. On 23 January 1951 20 yachts left Wellington bound for Lyttelton in an ocean yacht race to celebrate Canterburys centenary. Only one yacht finished the 1951 Wellington to Lyttelton yacht race the Nelson boat Tawhiri. It was a disaster for most with 10 lives lost.

Twenty yachts left Wellington for Lyttelton in a race to celebrate Canterburys centenary. Twenty yachts left Wellington bound for Lyttelton in an ocean yacht race to celebrate Canterburys centenary. Only one of the 22 starters finished the course.

Two yachts withdrew from the race and while most others returned to Wellington to avoid the storm some yachts attempted to continue with the race. 1951 Wellington to Lyttelton yacht race two boats lost 10 deaths 1951 Waterfront disputes 1951 ANZUS Pact formed between NZ Australia and America 1952 Population reaches 2 million 1953 Tangiwai railway disaster 151 deaths 1954 Bob Charles 18 wins New Zealand golf open 1955 Rimutaka rail tunnel opens. In 1940 an event had been sailed in the opposite direction to celebrate the capitals centenary.

A sever southerly storm with gale force winds and heavy seas began on the 24 January and many of the yachts withdrew and took shelter. To view this map please upgrade your browser. It was expected that the fastest yachts would complete the journey in one and a half days the slowest in five days.

The 26 ft Nelson cutter Husky and the 30 ft Wellington cutter Argo were lost with all. Yachts Argo and Husky lost in Cook Strait during Wellington-Lyttelton race with 10 lives lost. Wellington to Lyttelton race 1951.

In 1951 an ocean race was sailed from Wellington to Lyttelton in connection with the Canterbury centennial. On 21 January 1951 twenty yachts left Wellington in a race to reach Lyttelton but owing to weather conditions only one yacht finished. On 23 January 1951 19 yachts left Wellington in a Canterbury centennial race to Lyttelton.