No two of 67 starters in this year’s PIC Coastal Classic are identical. That is where the handicap system kicks in, giving opportunity to any boat no matter how big, small, new or old, to take away a victory based on how well they sailed the boat on the day.
“We’d like to congratulate our handicap winners,” says race spokesperson Adrian Percival of the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club. “It was tough out there, many boats withdrew before or in the early stages of the race, and those that went on to finish really put in the mahi.”
The first finishers took more than 14 hours to complete the course; the last more than 24 hours, making it one of the longer events in the race’s history. Just 39 boats finished the upwind race.
The navy-blue Warwick 50, Fez, owned by Justine and Casey Bellingham, was ninth on line but took out the coveted title of overall PHRF honours in the race. Vixen was second, and Zephyrus third.
Only two multihulls finished: Romanza, and Levity. Of the two, Romanza received redress (or time in credit) for spending nearly a full hour supporting the crew of a damaged yacht and won on both line and handicap.
“Both boats sailed superbly,” says Adrian, who presented the trophies at the prizegiving – generally regarded as sailing’s Party of the Year in squally wet conditions in Russell on Saturday night.
“Thank you to everyone for being adaptable and resilient this year, it’s definitely a race to remember and we are looking forward to the promised South-Westerly for 2025!”
For ongoing updates and results, visit the official PIC Coastal Classic website www.coastalclassic.co.nz/watch page or follow us on social media.
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