Prizegiving. It’s time to see who has won
19:00 hrs Prizegiving gets underway at the PIC Coastal Classic marquee.
14:00 hrs The race cutoff has now been reached. So close for Persevere, Babe, Copplestock, Hot Gossip, Motorboat, Pelagian 2, Red Baron, Satisfaction, Shimmer, Smokey, SV Thistle, Visage, Highline, and La Camargue, all of whom made it past Cape Brett but just missed the finish. A race well sailed.
13:45.56 hrs Ex-Machina, Jamie Paisley’s 2004 Elliott 7.8 racing in Division 5, has crossed the finish line in Russell.
Hooters: the little cat with big Coastal spirit
1130 hrs Craig Haslip’s Hooters, a Sele Open 8.5 racing in Division 7, captured the true spirit of the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic. Built for speed rather than comfort, the compact catamaran and her three-person crew aimed to reach Russell before dark on Friday — a goal thwarted by light winds. After a long night drifting through calm seas, they crossed the line at 10:48 a.m. Saturday, completing the course in just under 25 hours. Despite missing their daylight finish, Hooters stayed competitive, finishing near the front of the 8.5 fleet and proving that perseverance is every bit as rewarding as victory.
Young sailors from Kick and Wild Thing are proving that the future of offshore racing in New Zealand is already under way.
1055 hrs A new wave of young sailors is reshaping New Zealand’s great race north. We caught up with the Kick crew at the Russell wharf after their inspiring 2025 PIC Coastal Classic. Led by Brendan Sands under the SSANZ banner, the team blended experience with youthful drive, including teens from Manly Sailing Club’s WASZP programme coached by Mathias Coutts. They faced long calms, night watches, and bursts of 16-knot speed, learning fast and loving every minute. With plans already forming for a youth-driven quarter-tonner project, Kick and crews like Wild Thing prove the next generation is not just learning — they are already leading.
🏁 Rolling group of finishers
25th/07:59:56 hrs Wild Card has crossed the finish line in Russell.
25th/07:52:54 hrs Rehab (Division 1B), Mike Sanderson’s Shaw 35, has crossed the finish line in Russell.
25th/07:50:14 Kaizen is the next boat to cross the line. Simon Manning’s 2003 Farr 36 is well known on the RNZYS, SSANZ, and Gold Cup circuits, and now adds another impressive Coastal Classic finish to her list.
25th/07:48:06 hrs CAT+ION (Division 6), Graham Catley’s 2018 Roger Hill 18.5-metre catamaran, has crossed the finish line in Russell.
25th/07:47:37 hrs Blue Dude (Division 1B), Chris Hornell’s 2009 Shaw 9, has crossed the finish line in Russell.
25th/07:43:32 hrs Alegre, Vaughn Clarke’s 2012 Soto 40 (Division 1B), has crossed the finish line in Russell.
25th/07:40:05 hrs Just moments after Explore Racing, Clockwork (Division 1B), Steve Mair’s 2013 Shaw 12, crossed the finish line in Russell, rounding off an exciting night on the water.
25th/07:36:22 hrs Explore Racing (Division 1A), William Goodfellow’s 15.2-metre Elliott 50 SS, has crossed the finish line in Russell after more than 20 hours at sea. A consistent performer throughout the race, Explore Racing held its place firmly among the leading pack in this year’s 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, rounding off an impressive showing from one of the fleet’s standout crews.
🏁 Sassinate is first in Division 1B
25th/07:25:14 hrs After more than 20 hours on the water, SassinateMikayla Plaw’s 12-metre Melges 40, has crossed the line in Russell to claim sixth overall and first in Division 1B in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic.
🏁 Wired arrives to fifth spot
25th/07:20.39 hrs Arriving 59 seconds after Another Duchess, Wired, the Division 1A TP52 Bakewell / White owned and skippered by Rob Bassett and Brett Russell finishes. A tight finish indeed! Possibly the biggest last minute dash to the finish line in the entire race.
🏁 Another Duchess pips Wired to the finish line with 59 seconds to spare, gaining fourth place on line honours
25th/07:19.40 hrs Division 1A entry, Another Duchess, a 1998 Davidson 55 skippered by Evan Davies crosses the line. Another Duchess has recently arrived in New Zealand from Australia just in time to compete in the PIC Coastal Classic.
🏁 Mayhem arrives third
25th/06:33.01 hrs After more than 20 hours at sea, Mayhem has secured third place on line honours in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, finishing just 19 minutes and 37 seconds behind second-place Callisto. The 15.8-metre TP52, co-skippered by Harry Dodson and Tony Bosnyak, crossed the line at 06:33 a.m., completing the 119-nautical-mile course from Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour to Russell in 20 hours and 33 minutes.
🏁 Callisto finishes the great race north!
🏁 25th/0613.24 hrs Callisto has crossed the finish line in Russell, completing the journey 20 hours, 13 minutes, and 24 seconds after departing Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour at 1000 hrs yesterday. Congratulations to Jim (James) Murray and his crew on an outstanding race!
Callisto takes second across the line in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic
🏁 Lucky take line honours!
25th/0322.55 hrs After 17 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds of racing, Lucky (Division 1A) has crossed the finish line in Russell to claim line honours in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic. Congratulations to Bryon Ehrhart and his crew on a superb effort.
Rolling updates – where are the crews?
24th/1946 hrs A moderate south to southwest breeze sent the fleet of at hull speed tight reaching towards North Head. Lucky (USA 2872) made a great sight as she tightened her huge headsail and galloped past the TP52’s.
Wired got a great start and showed a ton of speed off the line.
Beautiful conditions for the fleet and plenty of sun to show off the colourful spinnakers and gennakers as they headed off into the distance.
24th/1730 hrs Mayhem has caught up with Wired, both in parallel on the tracker.
24th/1700 hrs Mayhem is now lying in fourth, with Wired in third.
24th/1835 hrs We’re now pulling together our detailed race packages — but for now, enjoy this stunning gallery of start-line photos by Roger Mills.
Amazing Picture Gallery of the start of the PIC Coastal Classic
A mid-race update from Lucky
24th/1800 hrs The team on Lucky are keeping us very happy exclusive information to share! Bryon, Brad, and the team are DOING IT!
Lucky is pushing to the front!
24th/1202 hrs Between Tiritiri Matangi and Whangaparaoa, Bryon and the team have taken the lead. Callisto is there close to Shakespear Regional Park (light blue).
Team Vixen Racing: women at the helm in the PIC Coastal Classic 2025
The 19 boats in Division 1B are driving forward with determination.
24th/1115 hrs This group includes Fez (last years handicap winner), Vixen running at 50/50 crew of women and men, and Sassinate the latter of which is leading at this moment.
One Chicagoan up against another
24th/1100 hrs The two American boats, both owned by Chicagoan’s are crewed mainly by Kiwis are showing what they are made of. Both in Division 1a, Lucky and Callisto are leading, but only just. Category 1a and Category 1b, have essentially left the rest of the fleet behind, in their push north.
Divisions 1, 6 and 7 are underway
24th/1000 hrs The final divisions to start are both multihull divisions (6 and 7) and the 1a and 1b divisions. All potentially fast boats given the correct weather. The start signal sounds for Divisions 1, 6, and 7, and the fleet surges across the harbour. Wired (Rob Bassett and Brett Russell) takes an early lead, chased closely by Callisto (Jim Murray) and race favourite Lucky (Bryon Ehrhart). Mayhem (Harry Dodson and Tony Bosnyak) follows just behind, with Sassinate (Mikayla Plaw) flying past on the inside, rumoured to have Olympic sailor Blair Tuke at the helm.
The whole fleet is now underway! Go, Go, Go in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic,
Divisions 2 and 3 are underway
24th/0945 hrs Divisions 2 and 3, lighter agile boats, still fast, but potentially not as fast as Division 1 boats are now also underway. The start signal has sounded for Divisions 2 and 3, and the Waitematā is once more a brilliant display of colour. The breeze has lifted slightly, and the fleet have accelerated out towards Rangitoto Island Channel. Crews were seen trimming hard, calling tactics, and fighting for every advantage as they charge toward the open Gulf. Among the front-runners is Kick, Brendan Sands’ 1994 Elliott 1050, crewed by a talented youth team. Their sharp start and confident handling are a standout moment in this year’s race. It is fantastic to see so many young sailors on the course, a new generation already making its mark on New Zealand’s great race north.\
Divisions 4, 5, 8 are underway
24th/0930 hrs Divisions 4 and 5, the smaller, heavier, potentially slower boats, and Division 8 (no extra sails) are underway. SV Thistle, the only sloop racing this weekend stands along in Division 8.
Our on-water reporter has reported that the starting horn for Divisions 4, 5, 8 has been heard and the boats are underway. Early leaders appear: Grunt Machine, a Ross 930 skippered by Grant McKilliam appears, though only by a small amount. This year’s light breeze has set the stage for a vibrant spectacle of colour over the Waitematā Harbour, marking a stunning start to New Zealand’s great race north.
SV Thistle is on the water and sharing some action from the start line.
Boating New Zealand’s, Roger Mills is on the North Shore catching photos and video for us.
Boats lining up on the start line
24th/0900 hrs Crews are making their final preparations ahead of the starting signal; a blast of the horn that marks the beginning of the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic. The first warning will sound five minutes before each staggered start, followed by the race start on the scheduled time.
Our on-water reporter says the Waitematā Harbour is alive with activity as crews check their gear, stretch their legs, and prepare their boats for the long race north. There is a sense of calm focus on the water as sailors fine-tune sails and ready themselves for a clean getaway.
Today’s conditions should see the spinnakers flying, a welcome contrast to last year when strong winds kept them stowed. The breeze is light but steady; perfect for a colourful and competitive start to New Zealand’s great race north.
On the water reporter: already on his second PIC Coastal Classic – quality!
Start times
The PIC Coastal Classic will have a staggered start, with three starting line-ups.
- 0925 hrs warning / 0930 hrs start: Divisions 4, 5, 8 and Solo
- 0940 hrs warning / 0945 hrs start: Divisions 2 and 3
- 0955 hrs warning / 1000 hrs start: Divisions 1, 6 and 7
2025 PIC Coastal Classic: Auckland to Russell, where speed meets seamanship
