25th HSBC Coastal Classic gets underway
by Sail-World on 20 Oct 2006
V5 powers up as she clears Noth Head in the 2006 HSBC Coastal Classic Richard Gladwell
www.photosport.co.nz
The 25th edition of the HSBC Coastal Classic got underway, on time, at 1000hrs today, off Devonport Wharf.
Sailing in a 10-15 kts Westerly breeze, the first start got away cleanly with most favoring a starboard gybe start - all except for 2005 YNZ Sailor of the Year, Ray Haslar sailing Jive Talkin' who elected to start on port and crossed the fleet, before heading for the first turning mark at North Head.
At that point Jive Talkin' a Laurie Davidson designed 35fter was giving the larger 50fters a real run for their money, canting keels and all. However once clear the parking lot under North Head the canters straetched their legs and were off.
The Cookson 50, Wingz looked to be the early leader, snugged down and reaching fast in the 15 kts Westerly breeze which began to swing back to the SW and strengthened as the fleet neared the next way point Tiritiri Island at the entrance to the inner Hauraki Gulf.
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First casualty of the event was the Murray Ross designed Isis, which was the early race leader, but broke her mast midway between North Head and Rangitoto light. The cause of the break was not known however conditions were not extreme. She was able to clear away the broken rig and proceed under her own power.
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Also showing her paces in the reaching conditions was the veteran a 50fter Anticipation, designed by Ben Lexcen, and still raced by her original owner, 93yr old Don St Clair Brown, who was a formidable sight at the wheel of Ants as she charged up the 119 nm course to Russel in the Bay of Islands.
At Kawau, the fleet was led by the multihull Silverraider which passed the waypoint at 1133hrs, followed by X-Factor two minutes later with the almost 30year old David Barker designed Sundreamer a further three minutes back.
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The Cookson 50 Pussy Galore (Anatole Masfen) Wings was the monohull race leader which passed the waypoint at 1200hrs followed five minutes later by the Cookson 50 Wings, with the Brett Bakewell-White 52, Wired, skippered by Rob Bassett seven minutes astern and with the other new launch Rantan, an Elliot 50, alongside 12 minutes astern of Pussy Galore.
Further updates as they come to hand.
See www.sailcam.tv for the video coverage from the start of the 2006 HSBC Coastal Classic
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