Coastal Classic: TP52 Wired first to finish
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 20 Oct 2023 09:36 BST
19 October 2023
Wired (Rob Bassett) - 2023 PIC Coastal Classic © Suellen Hurling
The Bakewell-White 52, Wired (Rob Bassett) has taken line honours in the 2023 PIC Coastal Classic, taking almost 10 hours for the 119nm shortened race, now in its 40th year.
Wired had battled with long-time rival Mayhem (Harry Dodson) for the early stages of the race, when Mayhem looked to have the race under control, however Wired broke through after the two passed Sail Rock off Whangarei - where Mayhem had a lead of just 8 seconds.
In the overall fleet, Apache (Erle Williams), a 16.5metre multihull, designed by Murray Ross, finished second, 8 minutes 20 seconds approximately astern of Wired. Williams is one of New Zealand's sailing legends having sailed as a watch captain, aged 21yrs, on the Dutch flagged Flyer, winner of the second Whitbread Round the World Race. He was bowman on KZ-7 in the first New Zealand America's Cup Challenge, and has a long and illustrious professional sailing career.
Mayhem was third boat home - 9 minutes 46 seconds behind Wired. Fourth and fifth finishers were the Melges 40's Clockwork and Sassinate.
The first three boats crossed the finish line at Russell just before 8.00pm - taking about 10 hours for the slightly shortened 119nm course.
The Race record is 5hrs and 37 secs set in 2019 by the MOD70 (Karl Kwok). Due to the start-line shift from the inner to the outer Waitemata because of water pollution issues, no records were actually on offer. The monohull record set by the 100ft Maxi Alfa Romeo (Neville Crichton) was the size/type category open to Wired, but with the start relocation and light winds from an unfavorable direction was never on. Wired is just over half the length of the record holder.
For updated finish results click here
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