Coastal Classic: Race starts in light airs, leaden skies, and tricky tide
by Coastal Classic/S-W NZ 19 Oct 2023 19:01 PDT
19 October 2023
Part of the fleet try to negotiate Rangitoto light - 2023 PIC Coastal Classic - October 20, 2023 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com / nz
The 2023 Coastal Classic got underway on Friday morning in light airs, from the revised start location a few hundred metres south of Rangitoto Light.
Although a Race Record cannot be set this year because of the changed start location, there was no record threat unofficial or otherwise, due to the light conditions which saw the fleets combined as they exited the outer Waitemata Harbour and entered the Hauraki Gulf.
A light NE breeze greeted the front runners as they moved further north, and by mid-afternoon the race leaders were closing in Whangarei Heads about halfway into the 120nm course.
The race was being led by Mayhem (TP52), making over 13kts, followed by another TP52 Wired.
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