Meet Peter Bourke: The AKL grandad solo racing across the Tasman
At noon on 30 May 2026, 17 solo sailors will depart Opua Cruising Club in the Bay of Islands and race approximately 1,170 nautical miles across the Tasman Sea to the Gold Coast. This is one of the toughest solo ocean races in the world - a week or more of non-stop sailing with nothing but the ocean ahead.
We’re talking about the Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Race, one of the longest-running events of its kind and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.
The race attracts all sorts - this year, the second oldest competitor will be Mariner Insurance customer, Peter Bourke, a 73-year-old retired marine industry business owner from Auckland, who says participating in the race is ‘turning a dream into reality’.
Meet Peter Bourke - the Grandad yacht racer
Peter is almost fully retired and lives North of Auckland in beautiful Tāwharanui. He’s got a pedigree in the marine industry - including a commercial skipper qualification, and a stake in both Hauraki Express (marine refuelling and charters), and the new Waiheke Ferry Service - Island Direct.
His priority now is his five grandchildren and big family, who, he chuckles nervously, aren’t that happy with him doing this. Peter will turn 74 on June 8, and the race starts on 30 May - he hopes to have his birthday on dry land.
“Everything is my responsibility. I have to be self-sufficient out there”
When we called Peter to talk about the race, he told us he was on a break at his deep-sea survival course, which begged the question - what gave you the mad idea to compete in this race?
Peter laughs:
“I was a very keen yachtie in my younger days, but then I had a family and backed off. Recently, I bought a classic wooden yacht, and that’s gotten me right back into it.”
This little thing’s a beauty - a 1970 Sparkman & Stephens Yacht called Diablo, made of Kauri:
“It was in bad shape when I got it, really the only things I haven’t changed or upgraded are the hull, deck, interior layout and mast. Everything else is new.”
“My boat is the smallest in the fleet by over two metres, but it’s a wonderful boat. A chunky, capable, little yacht. I rebuilt it myself, so I know every square inch. I’ve crawled into its tightest corners. I have every confidence in it.”
To test Diablo out once she was finished, Peter circumnavigated New Zealand in her, and enjoyed it so much that when he saw the race published, he couldn’t resist.
The yacht build rekindled his passion, but really Peter has always been fascinated by solo yacht racing - he’s read all the books, followed all the races, and now, in his words, he’s ‘turning a dream into reality’.
“What do I like about the idea? It’s very complex; you have to cover everything, and there’s no delegating tasks. Everything is my responsibility - I have to be self-sufficient out there.”
“I consider myself a jack of all trades, master of none, so I think I have a suitable capability to do it.”
The trick to staying safe? Don’t do dumb sh#!
The Tasman has a fearsome reputation for good reason — cold fronts sweeping up from the Roaring Forties (40 ° latitude) collide with the warm East Australian Current, producing steep, unpredictable waves and frequent storms that can build with little warning.
Peter is sailing out into this by himself, with nothing but a few inches of near-60-year-old native timber, and his wits between him and the ocean. Needless to say, he’s taking preparation seriously.
He’s done two courses - sea survival and medical, and he’s gotten his Category One sailing certification for offshore voyages and long-distance races. His boat has been inspected, and he says it passed with flying colours.
Peter adds that the secret to staying safe is minimising the likelihood of a medical event or accident:
“You’ve got to keep the boat clean, don’t let things become a mess. Always be clipped on. Think about everything you’re doing carefully, and do it slowly and deliberately. If you’re changing a sail, really concentrate on every detail.”
His favourite piece of advice on staying alive, from an instructor on his course:
“Don’t do dumb sh#!”
What does the journey look like?
When you’re solo yacht racing across the Tasman, there’s no reading novels or playing solitaire - you’re either sailing, eating, or sleeping, says Peter.
“I’ll sleep in 30-minute stints. I think as an older person, I have the advantage here, because my sleep is fitful anyway. It won’t be the end of daytime to morning, I’ll be getting sleep when possible.”
He’s allowing 10 days to complete the course, but a good run could be eight:
“I’m hoping it’ll be a slower race with low winds. I’m up against bigger boats that can reach higher speeds of up to 20 knots, whereas Diablo can do eight or nine. That’s my advantage, though, if I sail it properly, in low winds the boat may be faster.”
There’s risk involved, and Peter has to rely 100% on himself, but by the sounds of it - he’s built for this:
“No, I’m not nervous. I’m more anxious about the race than the journey. I’m really looking forward to it. This is the culmination of a major life project, from buying the boat to doing it up, getting it to this point.”
“I feel very well prepared. Let’s get it on!”
Peter sets off at 12:00 pm on 30 May 2026 - you can follow his progress on the Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge website race tracker. We’re catching up with Peter again to hear his story after he finishes the race, so check back here next month for part two.