This could be a historic edition of the PIC Coastal Classic
By Suellen Hurling
“It’s not normally like this…”
Every year, race organisers dream of making history. It doesn’t matter what the race is or where in the world it takes place, and the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club committee, organisers of the PIC Coastal Classic, are no different.
Admittedly, nobody dreams of making history by staging the slowest race on record.
But this edition of the PIC Coastal Classic, affectionately known as the Great Race North, could yet become historic for all the wrong, and painfully frustrating, reasons.
Forget record-breaking speeds. At the moment, the record being contested is who can keep going the longest without giving up.
And make no mistake: a slow race can be much harder than a fast one.
In 40-plus-knot squalls, the challenge is obvious. Everything happens at once. The boat is flying, the spray is horizontal and nobody has time to wonder what is for dinner.
In no wind, there is time for everything.
Time to stare at the same headland. Time to watch the speed climb triumphantly to 2.2 knots, only to fall back to zero. Time to discuss whether that ripple on the water is new breeze, or simply somebody opening a packet of chips.
Thirteen hours into the race, the leading boats belong to the rally fleet. Having studied the forecast, the rally crews wisely awarded themselves an additional five hours of motoring time and are now leading the charge, with their engines on.
The rally fleet is made up of enthusiastic cruisers determined to reach the post-race party in Russell, and at present they appear to have selected the most reliable tactical option available: diesel.
Even that voyage is not without drama. A crew of pirates has appeared aboard Dream Weaver, where reports suggest a possible mutiny may be in progress. Whether the dispute concerns navigation, engine hours or control of the snacks remains unclear.
In the racing fleet, Wired, competing in Division 1A, was leading at the time of writing.
Its speed was reported as zero knots, before rising dramatically to four knots and then settling back to 2.2. In the conditions, that brief burst may already qualify for the highlights reel.
Despite leading the fleet, Wired was only just north of Bream Bay. With just under 56 nautical miles remaining, a speed of 2.2 knots would produce another 25 hours of sailing.
That would put the boat outside the race cut-off, but it is not over until it is over. The breeze could still arrive, and Wired has reported that the crew intends to keep pushing, with no current plans to turn on the engine.
The undisputed highlight of the race so far belongs to the crew of Clockwork, who used the painfully slow conditions to bag themselves an impressive snapper while “racing” or, more accurately, drifting north.
The fact that a Shaw 12 canting-keel racing yacht even had a fishing rod aboard tells you everything you need to know: they knew this one was going to be a drifter.
Division 1B is being led by Blue Dude, closely followed by General Lee.
The crew aboard General Lee are keeping themselves entertained thanks to some excellent catering. Apart from that, not much is happening, which, in fairness, is a reasonably accurate tactical summary of the entire race.
Co-owner Cameron Thorpe, who owns the boat with Tim Holgate, said all was well aboard and the crew were having a great time with the A2 up, even if progress was a little more sedate than they were accustomed to.
They were not alone. Alegre, the Soto 40, was moving slowly enough for a seagull to land on the lifelines, apparently deciding the yacht made a perfectly suitable rest stop.
Across the fleet, boats were travelling at a pace that gave crews ample time to admire individual trees along the coastline.
The race began very differently.
From 102 entries, 87 yachts started in beautiful conditions. The cloud cleared just in time for the first start at 9.30am, with sunshine creating a picturesque scene across the harbour. Spectators gathered on North Head and took to the water to celebrate the departure of the fleet.
It looked like the beginning of a classic Coastal.
It still is, just perhaps not the kind anyone expected.
So far, 44 yachts have retired. Some have headed home, while others have turned on their engines and continued towards Russell for a weekend in the Bay of Islands. With more retirements still being reported, the racing fleet continues to dwindle.
But those still sailing have entered a different kind of race.
This is now a race for the tenacious: for the crews willing to keep trimming sails that refuse to fill, chasing patches of breeze that may not exist and watching the finish line approach one decimal point at a time.
A fast Coastal tests boats and sailors against the elements. This one is testing patience, humour, catering supplies and the ability to remain friends while travelling at walking pace.
There may be no spectacular squalls, no record speeds and no heroic surfing under spinnaker. But continuing when the forecast, the clock and the speedometer are all encouraging you to stop requires its own kind of courage.
The crews who refuse to give up will be the winners of this race.
And every boat that reaches the finish line, inside the cut-off or otherwise, will have earned its welcome in Russell, because sometimes the hardest races are not the wild ones. They are the ones where almost nothing happens, and you keep sailing anyway.
We can’t give you an accurate reading of the standings at the moment while the race committee manages the growing list of withdrawals. All we can say is: head to bed, get a good night’s sleep and hopefully things will be clearer when a new day breaks.
For all the latest, visit www.coastalclassic.co.nz
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