Several new records, including one standing for 16 years, were broken or set in this year's Coastal Classic.
The main one, the course record, was again taken by TeamVodafoneSailing as the first boat home at Russell after completing in 5 hours 41 minutes 44 seconds. It was the big red trimaran's third consecutive race record and shaved nearly three minutes off last year's record time, while also setting a new record for multihulls.
Simon Hull, who skippered the 60 foot vessel, described conditions in this year's race as being on "the cusp of being too windy," and noted she was down to three reefs by the time it reached the Tiri Channel. The boat maxed out at 46 knots of boat speed in one burst, and enacted at least a dozen sail changes.
"It was a boisterous day out there," said Hull.
Conditions for the annual Auckland to Russell yacht race were described as being very similar, albeit slightly heavier, to those experienced in the 2011 event, with a blustery start and heavy seas.
Event commentator Zoe Hawkin noted the boats which sailed conservatively maximised their chance of finishing in the annual event - organised by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club - and securing glory in Russell.
The race began at Devonport Wharf amidst 30 knot wind squalls and very poor visibility and the weather continued to throw everything it could at the contestants on Friday. The fleet headed north where 40-knot-plus wind gusts, capsizes and broken rudders and then to near windless conditions left stragglers struggling to reaching the finish line in time for the noon Saturday cut-off. Having watched Dirty Deeds flip over near Kawau in a massive gust, Tim Willetts, owner Timberwolf [seen in last week's Age] said his team found the going "very tough" with the maximum wind gust experienced hitting his bright green trimaran at an estimated 37 knots.
"At times, the seas were just evil. We found it dangerous over 18 knots in the nasty stuff and while our peak speed was just over 25 knots, we found it hard to push the boat to its full limit ... this was a day about seamanship and finishing."
After TeamVodafoneSailing, Triple 8 was next across the line at Russell arriving at 16:56.47, then Taeping at 17:35.03. Other records set in this year's event included Crusader 35's 10 hours 2 mins to take out the under-10.66m record (11h53s seconds, held by Mumm 30 since 1996) and exceed the time for boats under-12.19m (formerly 10hrs 33m held by Satellite Spy also since 1996); while Borderline achieved the first official records for the Open 8.5s after finishing in 8 hours 59 minutes.
At least 11 boats made it to Russell before nightfall where festivities continued at the Duke of Marlborough until 5.45am on Saturday while of the 167 starters, 11 boats withdrew. The smallest boat in the fleet, an Elliott 7m called Elevation from Rotorua, finished at 0302hrs Saturday; while Crac a Jac, the second smallest boat in the fleet and skippered by Whangarei-born round-the-world sailor Laura Dekker, 17, and Edwin Delaat, 16, was becalmed on Saturday but squeaked into Russell on time.
The first 20 finishers were: Team Vodafone Sailing (div 6) 5:41:44, 1 (e.g. 1st), Triple 8 (6) 6:56:47, 2; Taeping (6) 7:35:03, 3; V5 (1) 8:37:55, 4; Timberwolf (7) 8:44:46, 5; Wired (1) 8:55:15, 6; Kia Kaha 52 (1) 8:57:19, 7; Borderline (1) 8:59:59, 8; Georgia (1) 9:01:25, 9; Ran Tan (1) 9:12:09, 10; Bare Essentials (1) 9:17:21, 11; Whio (7) 9:43:22, 12; Fusion X (7) 9:54:16, 13; Crusader 35 (1) 10:02:51, 14; Buckley Systems (1) 10:07:11, 15; Titi Nui (6) 10:18:16, 16; Pzazz (6) 10:21:31, 17; Equilibrium (1) 10:22:13, 18; Andar (1) 10:26:03, 19; Systems Thunder 10:48:32, 20.