Hooters and the Friday night goal

Craig Haslip’s silver catamaran keeps the PIC Coastal Classic spirit alive.

Most of the fleet has now arrived in Russell, with only a few crews still making their way in. Boats are tying up at the wharf to unload crew and gear before heading back out to anchor in deeper water. Not Hooters, though. Racing in Division 7, the class for smaller catamarans, she sits just metres from the shoreline, close enough for her crew to step ashore if they wish. Sleeping aboard, however, is another matter. Craig Haslip’s Sele Open 8.5 is built for performance, not comfort — her crew describe the tight quarters as “functional at best.”

That blend of simplicity, competition, and camaraderie is what defines Hooters and, in many ways, the PIC Coastal Classic itself.

The boat and the goal

For Haslip and his two crew, this year’s race wasn’t about trophies or records. Their mission was more personal: to make it to Russell before dark on Friday, a satisfying milestone they’ve chased since buying the boat.“It’s been the goal since I bought her,” Haslip said. “To finish before night-time on Friday.”

Built under the strict “box rule” that governs New Zealand’s Open 8.5 class, Hooters is a sleek, no-frills catamaran optimised for balance and lightness. Every centimetre and kilogram counts, giving the fleet remarkably even and exciting racing.

The long light-air slog north

The 2025 race made that goal tough. After a lively start off Devonport, the wind faded through the afternoon and by the time Hooters reached Hen and Chicken Islands, the breeze had disappeared entirely.“ We never fully stopped,” Haslip said. “At worst, we were doing half a knot. But at one point you looked around and there were 50 boats all parked up, lights everywhere.”

Even so, Hooters stayed competitive, crossing the line around 10:48 a.m. Saturday with an elapsed time just under 24 hours and 50 minutes. Their average speed hovered around 7 knots, right in line with the rest of the 8.5 fleet, which finished within about 15 minutes of each other.

Racing on equal terms

The Open 8.5 class remains one of the most balanced in New Zealand sailing. Each boat must fit inside the same 8.5-metre design box, keeping hull length, beam, rig height, and sail area within strict limits. “Even between cats and tris, the boats are very even,” Haslip explained. “It makes for great racing.”

On board, comfort is a distant thought — the crew sleep under the cockpit floor “like a coffin,” Haslip jokes — but when the wind fills in, every saved kilo pays off.

The unfinished business

Despite missing their daylight target, Hooters’ crew were upbeat at the finish. The boat performed flawlessly, the racing was tight, and the experience reminded them why they keep coming back. “Had there been any wind, we could’ve done it,” Haslip smiled. Next year, they’ll try again — same boat, same crew, same determination — proving once more that the spirit of the PIC Coastal Classic is about the challenge as much as the finish.