coastal classic yacht race

8 - 9 March 2024

A NEW RACE A NEW CHALLENGE

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PIC Coastal Classic 2024

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The PIC Coastal Classic Yacht Race, from Devonport to Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands, stands as New Zealand's premier fleet race, covering 119 nautical miles.  A must on the country's sailing calendar, it's among the world's most iconic events of its kind. 

Wired takes line honours in Coastal Classic

Wired crossed the finish line in the 2023 PIC Coastal Classic just before 8pm. Photo / Suellen Hurling, Live Sail Die

Auckland-based yacht Wired has taken out the line honours in this year’s Coastal Classic yacht race from Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands, crossing the line just before 8pm.

The unofficial time of just over 10 hours and 20 minutes (uncorrected) is more than twice the course record of 5 hours and 37 seconds, set by Beau Geste in 2019. But the performance in relatively light airs at the start of the race underlines the speed of the Bakewell-White-designed 52-footer, which boasts a canting keel and a computer-controlled dagger board for extra horsepower.

More than 140 yachts started the annual drag race, which was first run 41 years ago and is one of the biggest events on the yachting calendar in New Zealand.

This year, the start line was moved from Devonport Wharf to Narrowneck Beach, due to the rāhui placed across the Waitemata Harbour following the collapse of a main sewer line in Parnell and overflows into the ocean at Orakei.

The fleet set off under grey skies and a light easterly breeze, which promised to build and back to the south later in the day - conditions that were likely to favour multihull yachts in this race.

But it was the high-performance monohulls in Division 1A that set the pace, with early leader Mayhem gradually hauled in by eventual winner Wired.

Multihull Apache made a late attack, speeding past Clockwork (Division 1B) on the downhill run toward Russell and flying past Mayhem in the last few minutes to take second line honours.

For most yachts, however, it will be a long slog through the night with finishers turning up in Russell through Saturday.

Race spokesman Adrian Percival was light on predictions before the start, laying out the race conditions the fleet would meet.

“There is a short beat, a tack and a long reach up the coast – then a run into the bay,” he said.

“On paper, this year’s race looks really cool – but as we know, anything can happen and it’s dangerous to make predictions.”

The fleet welcomed two recent arrivals from Australia who had taken part in the inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean race.

“We extend a big welcome to Mayfair and Frantic,” Percival said. “They have come a long way to be here, and we look forward to extending Kiwi hospitality in both Auckland and the Bay of Islands.”

To follow the race go to https://www.livesaildie.com/2023-pic-coastal-classic-track-the-fleet/

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Plan now and play later

Friday 25 October 2024

• Oct 18, 2023

Kicking off the long weekend with an epic fleet and an easterly!

More than 150 yachts will start the PIC Coastal Classic yacht race tomorrow morning. The coastal sailing marathon is the biggest of its type in New Zealand, and marks the start of the summer boating season for hundreds of Kiwi sailors.

Despite El Nino delivering weeks of westerlies and south-westerlies, the forecast for race day is a moderate easterly. This will likely make it a pleasant race all the way from Auckland to Russell, a distance of 119 nautical miles with the fastest boats potentially arriving around dinner time. Some rain could make an appearance.

Amongst the entrants are two Australian boats, entrants in the Royal Port Albert Yacht Club Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, making the 1,250 nautical mile race across open ocean to arrive in Auckland for the start.

“We extend a big welcome to Mayfair and Frantic, they have come a long way to be here and we look forward to extending Kiwi hospitality in both Auckland and the Bay of Islands,” says race spokesperson Adrian Percival.

He says that while these are fast boats, the easterly and south-easterly wind direction are most likely to favour the twelve multihull entries entered.

“There is a short beat, a tack and a long reach up the coast – then a run into the bay. On paper this year’s race looks really cool – but as we know anything can happen and it’s dangerous to make predictions.”

Monohulls have only won on line twice since 2009. V5, an Alan Andrews TP52 skippered by Brian Petersen of the RNZYS took top honours last year.

PredictWind weather routing shows that Open 8.5 multihulls are likely to finish in between six and eight hours. The big TP52 keelboats are likely to finish closer to 10 hours, getting in after dinner at around 8pm. Smaller keelboats such as the Young 88 could have a long evening on the water, and are predicted to get in between 12am and 2am.

The PIC Coastal Classic started life 41 years ago as a drag race between Auckland and Russell for just a few boats, and over the years attracted a bigger and more diverse fleet, ranging from grand prix racers to smaller family cruisers.

The race starts on the morning of Friday 20 October and finishes off Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands.

The sail up the coast is spectacular for the fleet, but wind and conditions can be changeable which means that fortunes can change quickly.

Organised by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club, it is a race designed for speed: except for at the beginning and the end of the race, there are few opportunities to use tactics to overtake, and success can often depend on getting a good tactical start.

As well as welcoming back long term supporter PIC Insurance Brokers, the Coastal Classic is supported by some of New Zealand’s pre-eminent marine brands: B&G, PredictWind.com, 36° Brokers. Line 7 and Doyle Sails.

For those watching the race start from ashore, prime vantage points are Devonport Wharf, North Head, Orakei Wharf and the race website, www.coastalclassic.co.nz which will be updated regularly with photos, commentary and radio positions throughout the rac

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Leaderboard for PIC Coastal Classic Yacht Race 2014

PIC Coastal Classic Yacht Race 2014, racing with 182 boats.

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