Grand prix international yacht will race under New Zealand flag

by Zoe Hawkins on 11 Oct 2010 HSBC Premier Costal Classic - The Reichel-Pugh 62, Evolution Sails Limit has confirmed its intention to race in the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic, under the New Zealand flag.

The boat is one of more than 200 expected to make the start of the 119nm race from Auckland to Russell on Friday 22 October, in a fleet that includes the impressive giant tri TeamVodafoneSailing, current multihull record holder Split Enz, two times line honours winner Taeping, and the Bakewell-White 52, Wired.

Evolution Sails Limit, which is owned by Alan Brierty, the founder of Brierty Limited, a civil engineering and mining company in Western Australia. Alan Brierty is a member of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

This year the boat has competed in the Pacific Cup (San Francisco to Hawaii) and other major international regattas, before undergoing a refit in New Zealand, in preparation for the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic and the Hobart.

Its predominantly New Zealand crew for both the Coastal Classic and the Hobart will include Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady. Three crew hail from Perth, two from the United States, and two from Sydney. The remainder, including boat manager Rodney Keenan, are from New Zealand.

'The HSBC Premier Coastal Classic is part of our training schedule, and if conditions are heavy, there is a very small chance we could break Alfa Romeo’s record from last year – but we will see how the weather goes,' says Rodney Keenan.

The supermaxi Alfa Romeo broke a thirteen-year record drought when it set a new overall record last year, completing the race in 6 hours and 43 minutes, but Split Enz remains the fastest multihull to ever finish the race with a record set in 1996 of 7 hours and 20 minutes.

'The fleet traditionally represents the full spectrum of New Zealand sailing, and we welcome any boat that can achieve Cat 3 safety certification from Yachting New Zealand,' says race spokesperson Jon Vincent. 'Limit is a wonderful grand prix keelboat and we are thrilled that it will be on the startline.'

David Griffiths, CEO, at HSBC New Zealand says: 'We’re counting down to race day and excited to see that strong competition will be on offer and serious potential for the race history books.'

Joining HSBC Premier, which is also sponsor of Division 1, are eight divisional sponsors, each contributing prizes to its line honours winners and handicap placegetters: Musto (Division 2), Safety at Sea (Division 3), Mt Gay Rum (Division 4), Steinlager (Division 5), Duke of Marlborough Hotel (Division 6), RAILBLAZA Ltd (Division 7), Jucy Rentals (Division 8), PredictWind.com (IRC), and SailNZ (Classic Division).

Snitch GPS will provide real-time GPS tracking of ten members of the race fleet, and Sunday Star Times and Trade-A-Boat Magazine are official media partners to the race.

Predictwind.com will issue an official, detailed race forecast on the eve of the race.

The HSBC Premier Coastal Classic starts from 10am on Friday 22 October off Devonport Wharf in Auckland, and finishes off Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands.

www.coastalclassic.co.nz