Bellatrix skipper enters 40th race to celebrate her own 40th birthday

First-time skipper Irene Muirhead celebrates 40th birthday by racing in 40th anniversary of PIC Coastal Classic

The PIC Coastal Classic is a bucket list race for many people and no less so for Irene Muirhead. Irene has completed the race many times before but will face up to the challenge for the first time as skipper of her own boat to mark the occasion of her 40th birthday.

Bellatrix is a 10m long Beale 33 cruiser-racer that she purchased earlier this year from Opua, and which has been berthed in Auckland waiting for race day.

The Wellington-based sailor has spent twelve years crewing in a variety of boats both ‘around-the-cans’ and offshore.

“This year I turned 40 and it was the year for buying the boat and doing the Coastal,” she says.