The start of the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic had it all: colour, excitement, and that unmistakable surge of adrenaline as hundreds of sails filled across the Waitematā. From the gun at Devonport to the fleet’s first tack north, it was a sight every sailor dreams of. Our media team captured the action from the water, so here’s a look back at how New Zealand’s great race north began. 📹 Chris Davison / Stills in Motion media

Russell came alive last evening (Saturday, 25 October) as crews, family, and supporters packed into the big PIC Coastal Classic marquee for the 2025 prizegiving. It was clear from the start that this year’s race had tested every sailor’s patience. The stories were familiar after one of the calmest races in recent memory: boats drifting off Kawau, glassy seas off Whangārei, and the lucky few who caught a faint breeze at Cape Brett. It was a true PIC Coastal Classic, a race that rewards...

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 NZMYC 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...