Please select your home edition
Edition
Youmans Studio old 18 footers 1456x180 TOP

Start of country's biggest yacht race kicks off long weekend holiday weekend

by PIC Coastal Classic/Sail-World.com/nz 19 Oct 2023 15:52 NZDT 20 October 2023
2022 PIC Coastal Classic - The 40th Edition © Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die

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 at 0930hrs 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 degrees Brokers. Line 7 and Doyle Sails.

For those watching the race start from ashore, prime vantage points are Fort Cautley, Narrow Neck Beach, Takapuna Grammar/George Gair Reserve.

The first start is at 0930hrs on Friday October 20. Full coverage on www.sail-world.com/nz

Related Articles

How to report marine pest sightings
As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! From Northland all the way down to Hawke's Bay, our regions include a vast amount of coastline. As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! Posted on 3 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week: Sponsors announced
Enter now to assist regatta planning and creation of another excellent BOI SW regatta The countdown is on for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2025, New Zealand's premier multi-boat regatta, scheduled for January 21-24. Posted on 1 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
U-DECK 2023 - No.3 728x90 BOTTOMSOUTHERN-SPARS-MISSY-FURLING-BOOMS-728-X-90 BottomC-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOM