Last night, the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic concluded with awards ceremony. After light winds stretched the 119-nautical-mile course into a long tactical challenge, crews from across the country converged on Russell to recognise the champions of this year’s edition.
The 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, organised by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club (NZMYC) and proudly supported by PIC Insurance Brokers, began on Friday morning under near-perfect spring skies. But as many crews later recalled, the weather gods failed to deliver on what a week earlier had been a promised, 14 knot winds.
Leading the celebrations was Bryon Ehrhart’s Lucky, the 27-metre Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed maxi that claimed line honours in 17 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds. The Chicago-based yacht, fresh from success in the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, found the faint southerly that arrived after 1 a.m. and powered through Cape Brett at more than 10 knots.
A little under three hours later Jim Murray’s Callisto arrived, finishing second across the line in 20 hours 13 minutes. Callisto’s polished campaign confirmed why she will be one of the world’s most competitive Pac52s.
Callisto is second across the line in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic
Rounding out the podium was Harry Dodson and Tony Bosnyak’s Mayhem, a TP52 and a familiar sight on New Zealand’s offshore circuit. Arriving only 19 minutes after Callisto, at 06:33.01 hrs, Mayhem secured third on line and continued her reputation for consistency and determination.
In fourth overall, Division 1A entry, Evan Davies’ Another Duchess, a 1998 Davidson 55 which days ago arrived from Australia, and skippered by Evan Davies crossed the line at 07:19.40 hrs.
In fifth overall, Rob Bassett and Brett Russell’s Wired crossed the line at 07:20.39 hrs, followed less than five minutes later (07:25:14 hrs) by Mikayla Plaw’s Sassinate — the first in Division 1B and sixth overall.
A stream of finishers followed through the morning: William Goodfellow’s Explore Racing, Steve Mair’s Clockwork, Vaughn Clarke’s Alegre, Chris Hornell’s Blue Dude, Graham Catley’s CAT+ION, Mike Sanderson’s Rehab, Wild Card, and Laurent Lhermitte’s Ultraviolet. Each received a warm welcome on Russell’s waterfront after more than 20 hours at sea.
By the time prize giving began, the PIC Coastal Classic marque was buzzing. The Rally Division saw Wildcard take first on line, while SV Thistle, the family-sailed Lambert 52, collected the Division 8 trophy as the only entry.
Among the multihulls, Hooters dominated Division 7, taking both line and handicap wins as well as the Open 8.5 line honours win. Aventador won Division 6 on handicap and the Duncan Stewart Rose Bowl for first multihull overall.
For the monohull fleets, in the Doyle Sails Division 1A, it was Another Duchess who took top honours on handicap after a well-sailed race, while Lucky—the big Juan K–designed maxi—powered through to claim line honours. Explore Racing held strong to secure second on handicap, followed by Mayhem in third, rounding out a fiercely competitive division filled with fast boats and seasoned crews.
Over in the PredictWind Division 1B, Blue Dude came out on top on handicap after an impressive showing across the course, while Sassinate flew to line honours with slick boat handling and consistent pace. Kaizen took second on handicap, and Rehab finished close behind in third, reflecting how tight the racing was among the mid-fleet performers.
The Mount Gay Rum Division 2 also delivered plenty of action, with Niksen claiming first place on handicap after a well-judged race strategy. Force Eleven was first across the line and also took second on handicap, proving both fast and smart under pressure. Blackout completed the podium in third.
In the PIC Insurance Brokers Division 3, Legacy dominated from start to finish, taking both line and handicap honours with a commanding performance. First Priority managed a strong second, while C’est La Vie rounded out the top three in what was one of the most evenly matched divisions of the event.
In the Burnard International Division 4, Starmaker shone brightest on handicap, while Wasted Away charged home first across the line and secured second overall. Lavanti took third on handicap after a steady race, closing out a competitive division where every boat had its moment in the spotlight.
Finally, in the B&G Division 5, Paddy Wagon sailed a smart race to take first place on handicap, showing steady form all the way to Russell. T-Rex was the quickest on the water, taking line honours and backing it up with third place on handicap. Young Mischief also put in a solid performance to finish second on corrected time, rounding out a competitive fleet where consistency counted as much as speed.
Team racing glory went to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Team 5 — First Priority, Juniper, Sassinate — who lifted the Team Trophy. Other notable awards included the Cockleshell Trophy for smallest boat to finish (ExMachina), the Cookson Trophy for first IRC boat (Sevante), and the Te Hau Ao Wairaka Trophy for first wahine skipper on handicap, awarded to Justine Bellingham of Fez.
The Classics Trophy went to Innismara, while Star Maker claimed both the Sands Two-Handed Trophy and the Jackson Electrical PHRF Overall Trophy. The Russell Boating Club Trophy for the first Bay of Islands monohull went to Young Mischief.
Capping the ceremony, Lucky was presented with both the Duke of Marlborough Cup for overall line honours and the John Vincent Memorial Trophy for first overseas entry. CAT+ION lifted the Alexander Flynn Trophy as first multihull to finish, rounding out an impressive set of results for New Zealand’s diverse fleet.
As sailors packed up their boats and shared tales of drifting off Kawau and chasing dawn off Cape Brett, the consensus was clear: this had been a long, light, and beautifully run Coastal Classic — not a race for records, but a reminder of why the journey north remains one of New Zealand’s most loved sailing traditions.
Congratulations to the winners
Cup and trophy winners
Lucky
- Duke of Marlborough Cup for the first boat to finish
- First monohull to finish
- First overseas boat to finish
CAT+ION
- First multihull to finish
Te Hau Ai Wairaka Trophy
- Traditionally awarded to an all-women crew, this year it recognised her as the first wahine skipper to cross the line on handicap: Justine Bellingham, Fez.
Handicap awards
- First PHRF (all monohull divisions): Starmaker
- First IRC: Savante
- First multihull: Aventador
- First classic: Innismarra
Two-handed SSANZ trophy:
- Winner, first on handicap: Starmaker
- Second on handicap: Lavanti
- Third in handcap: Hotdogger
The Young 88 Trophy
- First with line honours: Paddy Wagon
Russell Trophy (to first Bay of Islands entry on handicap)
- First on handicap: Young Mischief
Cockleshell Trophy (to smallest boat to finish)
- The 7.8-metre ExMachina which crossed the line just before the 2pm race cutoff
Club Team (first club on handicap, based on first three scores)
- RNZYS: First Priority, Juniper, Savante
DIVISION RESULTS
Doyles Sails Division 1A
- First on handicap: Another Duchess
- First on line honours: Lucky
- Second on handicap: Explore Racing
- Third on handicap: Mayhem
Predict Wind Division 1B
- First on handicap: Blue Dude
- First on line honours: Sassinate
- Second on handicap: Kaizen
- Third on handicap: Rehab
Mount Gay Rum Division 2
- First on handicap: Niksen
- First on line honours: Force Eleven
- Second on handicap: Force Eleven
- Third on handicap: Blackout
PIC Insurance Brokers Division 3
- First on handicap: Legacy
- First on line honours: Legacy
- Second on handicap: First Priority
- Third on handicap: C’est La Vie
Burnard International Division 4
- First on handicap: Starmaker
- First on line honours: Wasted Away
- Second on handicap: Wasted Away
- Third on handicap: Lavanti
B&G Division 5
- First on handicap: Paddy Wagon
- First on line honours: T-Rex
- Second on handicap: Young Mischief
- Third on handicap: T-Rex
NZMYC Division 6 (bigger, heavier multihulls)
- First on handicap: Aventador
- First on line honours: Cat+Ion
- Second on handicap: Cat+Ion
- Third on handicap: Ultraviolet
Division 7 (smaller, lighter multihulls)
- First on handicap: Hooters
- First on line honours: Hooters
- Second on handicap: Lucifer
- Third on handicap: Attitude
Burnsco Division 8 (no extras)
- SV Thistle
Open 8.5
- First on line honours: Hooters
Charlie Bravo Co. Rally Division
- First on line honours: Wild Card
