Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour was the stage for the 2025 PIC Harbour Classic, where 71 boats lined up to tackle a 14-nautical-mile sprint course designed to test both speed and strategy. Inspired by Italy’s iconic Barcolana Regatta, the event has quickly gained momentum and is cementing itself as a must-race fixture on New Zealand’s sailing calendar.
Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour came alive for the 2025 PIC Harbour Classic, with Frank Racing stealing the show for Line Honours and as well as the PHF Handicap results. Skippered by Simon Hull, the 10-metre GC32 blitzed the 14-nautical-mile course in just 46 minutes and 10 seconds, nearly 12 minutes faster than its 2024 winning time.
Taking a quick look at the Line Honours results: More than half an hour later, Hooters (Craig Haslip) and Water Music (Morgan Lagravière) secured second and third place, respectively. The first monohull home, Weapon of Choice (Phil Houghton), finished in 1 hour and 40 minutes, just ahead of Lucifer and Zephyrus. A husband-and-wife showdown between Team Sex and Enigma saw Anne Hirst edge out Chris Hirst, continuing their friendly rivalry from BOISW.
While Frank Racing stole the show in Line Honours, it also topped the PHF Handicap rankings, securing first place with a corrected time of 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 10 seconds. However, the big story in the handicap results was the dominance of female skippers, with four of the top five places claimed by women—further reinforcing the growing influence of women in competitive sailing.
In a tight battle for second and third, two Flying Fifteens from Division 5 went head-to-head, with just four seconds separating them. Jenny Price, at the helm of Ffortune, finished in 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 4 seconds, narrowly edging out Sarah Reynolds on Fflying Cloud, who clocked 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 8 seconds. Sally Garrett, sailing The GodFfather, followed closely in fourth place with a time of 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 21 seconds, marking a strong showing for the Flying Fifteen fleet.
Anne Hirst, fresh from her Magic 25 showdown with her husband Chris Hirst, claimed fifth place on handicap with Team Sex in 1 hour, 26 minutes, and 26 seconds. Chris, sailing Enigma, placed sixth in 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 6 seconds, proving their rivalry extends beyond Line Honours.
The first monohull with Line Honours, Weapon of Choice (Phil Houghton), finished in seventh place with a PHF handicap, with a corrected time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 14 seconds—backing up its monohull Line Honours win with another strong result.
Also featuring in the top 10 were Titus Canby (Greg Roake, Division 5, eighth place), Magic Dragon (Brent Gribble, Division 3, ninth place), and Cool Change (Richard Limbrick, Division 5, tenth place), all proving that boats across multiple divisions were in the hunt for top honours.
With an increasingly diverse fleet and fierce competition across multiple divisions, the PIC Harbour Classic continues to grow in stature. The strong performances from female skippers in the handicap rankings signal an exciting future for the event, while organisers remain focused on their ambitious goal of 500 boats on the start line within the next decade.
One thing is certain—whether racing for Line Honours or PHF victory, the 2025 PIC Harbour Classic delivered plenty of drama, rivalries, and standout performances on Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour.
With 71 boats on the start line, the PIC Harbour Classic is growing fast—organisers now aim for 500 boats within a decade. Frank Racing remains the boat to beat!
