Coastal Classic: Fleet takes shape for the big race north
by Fran Holland NZ Multihull Yacht Club 21 Oct 04:37 BST
Clockwork - 2024 PIC Coastal Classic - October 25, 2024 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
The stage is set for the 42nd PIC Coastal Classic, New Zealand’s most iconic coastal yacht race, which will see more than 100 boats charge north from Auckland to Russell this Labour Weekend.
Hosted by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club (NZMYC) and proudly supported by PIC Insurance Brokers, the 119 nautical mile race from Devonport to Russell brings together everything that defines Kiwi sailing - from grand-prix racers to family cruisers - all united by one goal: to reach Russell first.
This year’s fleet showcases a world-class mix of returning champions, ambitious newcomers, and international talent. Local favourites include Wired (Rob Bassett and Brett Russell’s Bakewell-White 52), the 2023 line honours winner; Fez (Casey and Justine Bellingham’s 50-foot Warwick), the 2024 handicap champion; and Sassinate (Mikayla Plaw’s Melges 40), the 2022 runner-up.
Adding international firepower is Lucky, a 27 metre Juan K-designed maxi skippered by American Bryon Ehrhart with Kiwi legend Brad Butterworth as tactician. Fresh off claiming line honours in the 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, Lucky’s debut adds serious pedigree to this year’s race.
“You feel the culture of sailing here even before you arrive,” says Ehrhart. “Everyone you meet in New Zealand has a story about the sea.”
Callisto, a 15.9-metre Pac 52 skippered by Kiwi James Murray, will join Lucky to take on homegrown powerhouses Wired and Mayhem (Harry Dodson and Tony Bosnyak’s TP52), setting the stage for a thrilling monohull showdown.
The multihull division promises equally fierce competition, featuring Cat+Ion (Graham Catley’s 18.5m Roger Hill design), Aventador (Stephen Bull’s Maera 40 -the newest design in the fleet), and Ocean’s Tribute (Australian Guy Chester’s 12.2m Crowther 40 trimaran) - a high-performance multihull built in New Zealand and raced around the world. In total, there are five 8.5 metre multihulls entered, highlighting the depth and diversity of the fleet.
At the other end of the design spectrum sits the modern-classic Innismara, a 1969 Bernie Schmidt design restored by young Kiwi sailors - a fitting link between generations as youth crews like Luke Tucker on Wild Thing and the Jameson brothers on Kick continue the family legacies that define this event.
Meanwhile, Fez moves up to Division 1B to take on faster rivals, including Clockwork (Steve Mair’s 2013 Shaw 12) and Alegre (Vaughan Clarke’s 2012 Soto 40).
“It’s fantastic to see international teams joining the fleet alongside some of New Zealand’s best,” says Adrian Percival, Commodore of the NZMYC. “The mix of world-class talent and Kiwi determination means we could see something special this year - maybe even a record”
“There’s nothing else quite like it,” adds John Chandler, Chief Client and Commercial Officer at PIC Insurance Brokers. “Hundreds of boats, sailors from around the world, and a coastline that never loses its magic - the PIC Coastal Classic is a celebration of who we are as Kiwis, and we’re proud to keep backing it.”
When the starting cannon fires at 9:30am on Friday, 24 October, the Hauraki Gulf will once again come alive with colour, competition, and camaraderie.
Website: www.coastalclassic.co.nz
Entry List:https://topyacht.com.au/db/kb2/entrants_display.php?EventID=1880