Beau Geste (Pat Kong) (Hong Kong) - PIC Coastal Classic - Start - Waitemata Harbour - October 25, . She took almost 13 minutes off the race record © Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com / nz
Earlier with approximate 45 minutes left to set a new race record the MOD70, Beau Geste looked to be taking it right down to the wire.
At 1430hrs the large trimaran, launched in Europe as Phraedo 3, had rounded Cape Brett and was in the Bay of Islands, but with an upwind battle ahead.
The race got underway on time at 1000hrs, in a fresh SW breeze, that has given the 170 boat fleet a fast run up the coast, however the monohull record set by the supermaxi Alfa Romeo of 6hrs 43mins is unlikely to be under threat.