Familiar faces and fierce competition in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic
by Fran Holland 6 Oct 17:39 PDT
Sassinate - 2024 PIC Coastal Classic - October 2024 © LiveSailDie
In just under three weeks, New Zealand’s great race north will once again light up the Hauraki Gulf, with the first gun scheduled for 09:30 on Friday 24 October.
Known as New Zealand’s biggest yacht race, the Coastal is a springtime tradition that stretches from Devonport Wharf in Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands - a 119-nautical-mile sprint that blends speed, endurance, and seamanship.
This year’s entry list already numbers 66 boats, with a flurry of sign-ups expected before the 13 October deadline, and more still trickling in. Of these, 55 are returning competitors, a clear sign of the race’s pull as a must-do challenge on the Kiwi sailing calendar.
Among the fleet are several standout performers from recent years. Fez, owned by Justine and Casey Bellingham and skippered by Casey, is back to defend her reputation as a boat that punches above her weight. Crafted from Northland kauri by well-known Kiwi yacht designer and builder Bruce Warwick, the 1986 Warwick 50 is a classic New Zealand yacht with pedigree and heart. Last year, Fez finished ninth across the line but took out the coveted overall PHRF handicap win among monohulls, ahead of Vixen and Zephyrus. That result cemented her as a crowd favourite and a serious contender once again in 2025.
Also returning is Wired, the TP52 designed by Brett Bakewell-White and built by Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders. Owned by Rob Bassett and Brett Russell, Wired is a proven weapon on both inshore and offshore circuits, with a resume that includes previous PIC Coastal Classics, Round North Island two-handed races, Bay of Islands Sailing Weeks, and international regattas such as Hamilton Island Race Week. Winner of the 2023 PIC Coastal Classic, Wired is primed to push hard for another top finish.
The 2017 Melges 40 Sassinate, skippered by Mikayla Plaw, also returns, adding youthful energy and raw speed to the line-up. Plaw steered Sassinate to second place overall in the 2022 Coastal and remains one of the race’s most exciting young talents. She is one of two women skippers confirmed for this year’s edition, joined by Olympian Sharon Ferris-Choat at the helm of Vixen Racing, a 2008 Verdier 40. At 12.2 metres, Vixen is sleek, fast and proven, giving Ferris-Choat every chance to challenge again in 2025.
PIC Coastal Classic Commodore Adrian Percival says the excitement around the fleet reflects the unique mix the race always delivers. “The PIC Coastal Classic always delivers a mix of glamour yachts, family boats, and hard-driving race machines. It’s a real celebration of New Zealand sailing, with something for everyone - from seasoned racers to families ticking off a bucket-list challenge.”
With the first start for Divisions 4, 5, 8 and the solo sailors at 09:30 on Friday 24 October, all eyes will turn to Auckland’s waterfront to watch the colourful spectacle unfold.
From the front of the fleet to the back, the challenge remains the same: 119 nautical miles of ever-changing coastal conditions, headlands, tidal gates, and strategy. Whether gunning for line honours or racing under handicap, every crew will be tested as they chase Russell’s finishing line.
For more information, visit www.coastalclassic.co.nz