Coastal Classic: Beau Geste arrives in NZ for record attempt
by Kristine Horne PIC Coastal Classic 19 Sep 2019 14:46 PDT
20 September 2019
Beau Geste - MOD70 - Hamilton Island Race Week - Day 5, August 23, 2019 © Craig Greenhill / Saltwater Images
Frank Racing, the current record holder of the PIC Coastal Classic yacht race from Auckland to Russell, has been sold to Airlie Beach based owners, prompting an international competitor to make the most of a door left ajar.
Karl Kwok’s Mod 70 Trimaran Beau Geste has just arrived in New Zealand to challenge the record for New Zealand’s biggest coastal race, due to start on the morning of Friday 25th October.
Once regarded among the fastest trimarans in the world, the last time it graced New Zealand’s waters was when the multihull was brand-new to Kwok, and the team was conservative in their efforts to ensure a safe finish. They finished less than 9 minutes behind Frank Racing, after racing 119 nautical miles in shortly more than 6 hours.
“We expect to see them pushing the boat at top speed this year, and certainly if the weather conditions are favourable, we will be anxiously watching our stop watches as they approach the finish line” says NZ Multihull Yacht Club Commodore Greer Houston.
5 hours 13 minutes is the record time for the PIC Coastal Classic, set in 2014 by Frank Racing (then known as Team Vodafone Sailing). Beau Geste has already set two significant race records in 2019- Brisbane to Gladstone and Brisbane to Hamilton Island- and have made it clear that they want to score a trifecta.
“But this event is so much more than who gets to the finish line first, and its more than a yacht race too” Greer continues. “Last year we had 165 boats full of weekend warriors, experienced sailors, and some very new to coastal sailing in the cruising rally division. It was champagne sailing all the way to The Bay, and a really fun celebration afterward, swapping stories with friends and dancing to live music.”
“We’re all in it to have a fun labour weekend and start the summer boating season off in the best way possible” he concludes.
Organizers are confident in the sustained upward trajectory of recent years, with entry numbers already up noticeably from 2018 with three weeks left for boats to get their entries in. Particular growth is noticed in the 40' division, and the cruising rally.
The Notice of Race and more information is available online www.coastalclassic.co.nz. Fans can follow the race online @piccoastalclassic and #piccoastalclassic.
For Sail-World NZ's Editor, Richard Gladwell's report and images of his experience on board Beau Geste while racing at Hamilton Island Race Week, last month
About the PIC Coastal Classic:
The PIC Coastal Classic is New Zealand's biggest coastal yacht race and has marked the start of the summer boating season for 37 years.
Beau Geste set a new race record for the Rolex China Sea race in 2018. Already in 2019 they have set a new race record in the Brisbane to Gladstone Race and Brisbane to Hamilton Island Race. The Mod 70 Trimaran will be raced by a combination of well known New Zealand and international sailors.
2018 Results
Full results are online here
Overall Line Honours: Frank Racing
First Monohull: Awen
Multihull 8.5 Class: Tigre (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 1a: Awen (LINE), V5 (PHRF)
Division 1b: Ice Breaker (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 2: Zealous (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 3: Party Girl (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 4: E-Nine (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 5: Manga II (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 6: Frank Racing (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 7: Exodus (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 8: Infarred (LINE & HANDICAP)
Division 9- Solo Entrants: Krakatoa II