PIC Coastal Classic: A Classic Race Against the Clock
By Suellen Hurling
“That’s yacht racing.”
“It is what it is.”
“We go into it knowing it’s a possibility.”
Those were the sentiments shared around the fleet as the clock reached the 2pm cut-off for the 2026 PIC Coastal Classic.
From a starting fleet of 87 boats, 10 racing yachts and multihulls completed the 119 nautical mile course to Russell. Six Cruising Rally entrants also reached the finish, bringing the total number of finishers to 16.
For those who made it, crossing the line was a reward for patience, persistence and an almost endless series of sail changes. For those who did not, there was still plenty to celebrate after what turned into a beautiful weekend cruising up the coast.
The Cruising Rally entrants were permitted an additional five hours of motoring, bringing their total allowance to 10 hours.
My Fix claimed rally line honours at 02:41:20 on Saturday morning, followed just minutes later by Lady Nada at 02:45:18. Dream Weaver crossed at 07:03:50, Skyesong finished at 09:14:37 and Gabrielle II arrived at 12:29:32.
In the racing fleet, Wired was first across the line at 10:58:25. Rob Bassett and his crew completed the course in 24 hours, 58 minutes and 25 seconds, claiming overall and Division 1A line honours. By the end, Wired was the only Division 1A boat left in the race.
Erle Williams’ catamaran Apache was the next racing boat home, finishing at 12:05:49, before the trimaran Romanza crossed at 12:21:00.
Then came the Division 1B charge.
General Lee led the group into Russell, crossing at 12:32:40. Revs followed at 12:40:52, Blue Dude at 12:45:30 and Alegre at 12:50:04. After more than 26 hours of racing, just over 17 minutes separated the four boats.
Division 2 delivered an even tighter finish.
Nosaka crossed at 13:20:21, with Drinks Trolley arriving only 54 seconds later at 13:21:15. After 119 nautical miles and more than 27 hours on the water, the result came down to less than a minute.
Perfect Storm, racing in Division 1B, followed at 13:29:55 and became the final boat in the racing fleet to complete the course.
Tiki was the sixth and final Cruising Rally entrant to arrive, crossing at 13:48:10 with fewer than 12 minutes remaining before the cut-off. Tiki was also the final boat of the day to officially make the finish.
For Motorboat II, watching the clock strike 2pm was particularly painful. The crew could see the finish line and had less than a mile to go when time ran out. They may not have recorded an official finish, but after coming so close, their determination deserved recognition.
The finishers were:
Cruising Rally
My Fix, 02:41:20
Lady Nada, 02:45:18
Dream Weaver, 07:03:50
Skyesong, 09:14:37
Gabrielle II, 12:29:32
Tiki, 13:48:10
Racing fleet
Wired, 10:58:25
Apache, 12:05:49
Romanza, 12:21:00
General Lee, 12:32:40
Revs, 12:40:52
Blue Dude, 12:45:30
Alegre, 12:50:04
Nosaka, 13:20:21
Drinks Trolley, 13:21:15
Perfect Storm, 13:29:55
For the crews that persevered, simply reaching Russell was an achievement worth celebrating. For everyone else, it was a reminder that the Coastal Classic does not always deliver your preferred conditions.
That’s yacht racing.
While 10 racing boats recorded finish times, the remainder of the racing fleet will receive a position based on where they were at 2pm. They will still appear in the overall results once they are published, but will not be eligible for prizes.
What they are eligible for, however, is a well-earned pat on the back and plenty of encouragement for sticking with it, even when most knew they might not make the finish in time.
Regardless of the results, it is going to be an epic party at the Nauti Penguin. Those who managed to sneak ahead will be celebrated in style at the prizegiving by their mates and fellow competitors.
The winners will be announced once the final results are published.
Stand by. More to come.
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