The Coastal Classic is setting course for Russell. Photo / Stephen Western
The Coastal Classic is setting course for Russell. Photo / Stephen Western
Northlanders will be keeping their eyes on the seas as the PIC Coastal Classic kicks off tomorrow.
Starting between 9.30am and 10am in Auckland, sailing lovers will get to see the full range of New Zealand racing fleet - from the smallest entrant which is a 7.8m keeler called FloydyBoy up to the massive 21m MOD70 trimaran Beau Geste, which arrived in the country recently specifically to challenge the record for this race.
The Coastal Classic is in its 35th year and is 119 nautical miles long.
If teams want to break the current record, they would need to traverse the distance in about five hours. However with the weather forecast, it seems unlikely.
Most of the others will spend the night and most of the next day at sea.
According to wind prediction service PredictWind.com, this year the first boats probably won't arrive in Russell until Friday night. Of course, in yachting, anything can happen, and that can only be confirmed on the day as things play out.
