Issue date
Wired, Clockwork, Apache and Lucifer were the big winners at the 2023 PIC Coastal Classic - with the Rob Bassett-owned TP52 becoming only the third monohull since 2009 to win New Zealand's great race.
Wired, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, finished third last year but took line honours this time round, crossing the line at 1947hrs.
The Bakewell-White-designed 52-footer has a canting keel and a computer-controlled dagger board for extra horsepower.
In the big keelboat fleet of more than 123 boats of all shapes and sizes, a win on PHRF handicap is an equally prestigious achievement – with the honour this year going to Clockwork, the Melges 40 owned and skippered by Steve Mair, and sailed with a non-professional crew.
Mair credits simplicity in setup with the success.
“We went as fast as we could, sailed as few miles as possible and tried to keep as dry as we could," he said.
“We have a consistent crew, everyone knows their job, and things go like clockwork.”
Clockwork won the keelboat fleet on handicap. Photos / PIC Coastal Classic, LiveSailDie
Clockwork’s finish time of 9 hours and 39 minutes has bettered the race records set by Crusader 35 in 2012 for boats of its size – but because the start line was shifted from Devonport to Narrow Neck Beach due to the rāhui placed across the Waitematā Harbour, it will be recognised unofficially.
Rival Melges 40 Sassinate also tipped the 2012 record.
Despite a later start which saw them disadvantaged by lighter conditions, the multihulls also performed well – with three boats in the top ten despite making up less than 10% of the fleet.
Apache, owned by Erle Williams of the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club, was the first to finish at 1955hrs.
The red trimaran Lucifer finished at 2106hrs, winning on corrected time. - with PIC Coastal Classic
Full results here.
