More than 300 PIC Coastal Classic sailors and supporters attended the inaugural Starry Night Cocktail gala last Friday and together raised $22,705 for the Starship Foundation. While the 2021 yacht race was officially launched with a party under the stars at Eden Park, the night had a more significant purpose, especially for our most critically ill and injured children.
The Starship Foundation is currently battling its biggest and most vital challenge in history: expanding Starship’s Intensive Care Unit (PICU) which right now, reaches critical capacity every 48hours. The full $22,705 raised on the night will help create space for more beds and ensure that children from across New Zealand can get the urgent medical care they need.
Twenty generous donors contributed to the charity auction but it’s the bidders who turned up on the night with cash jointly fundraise the significant lump sum. Acknowledgement is due to those that donated auction items:
PIC Insurance Brokers, Jackson Industries , Doyle Sails, Yotti, Nib, 36 Degrees, Snap Fishing Ventures, Mount Gay Rum, Suzy Platt Art, The VR Club, Musto with Bolle, Railblaza, Big Fish Eatery, Jaz and Dougal Love, Whiting Sailing, Dominion Constructors with Basset Plumbing & Drainage, Southern Cross, Nauti Penguin, and Bad Habits.
Further to the auction, a number of other individuals and businesses donated their time and services, including auctioneer Tony Loughran of Barfoot & Thompson, furniture hire by Flock Events, and photographers from Live Sail Die. The stage has certainly been set with this inaugural event to make the 40th-anniversary celebration in 2022, even bigger.
As NZ’s biggest coastal yacht race and one of the largest of its kind in the world, the PIC Coastal Classic marks the traditional opening of the kiwi boating season. The 2021 event will start on Friday 22nd October and includes a number of changes to ensure it remains a leader for coastal yacht racing and a fun long-weekend celebration for the thousands of people involved.
In addition to changes already announced this year including an increased commitment to sustainability via the Clean Regatta programme, three announcements were made on the night:
1. For the duration of Labour Weekend, the yacht race will work alongside the NZ Sport Fishing Council to run the inaugural PIC Coastal Classic Fishing Competition. Anybody connected to the race can participate, it will be free, and there will be prizes.
2. Musto has been confirmed as the official clothing and merchandise partner of the PIC Coastal Classic! Most of us will know the famous durability of Musto’s technical clothing, and their longstanding relationship with this event in the past. They will be revealing a limited-edition PIC Coastal Classic merchandise range soon, and have brought sunglasses brand Bolle along with them as a prize sponsor.
3. Lastly, the famous PIC Coastal Classic afterparty will be at the same, but different place this year… the Duke Tavern in Russell has been sold and is now called the Nauti Penguin. The venue has been spruced up, and already plans are being made to throw you all the best prizegiving and afterparty ever.