Awefull competing in the 2009 HSBC Premier Coastal Classic © Zoe Hawkins
by Zoe Hawkins
Just one month from race day, the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic entry list for 2010 is showing all the characteristics of a typical Kiwi race fleet.
From high-tech front runners like the Aussie Reichel-Pugh 63 Limit and the Orma 60 TeamVodafoneSailing, to modern classics like the Elliot designed Pork Chop, the old school Davidson 42, Mr Roosevelt, the classic Wyndspelle, and the humorously named Awefull, early entrants in the fleet are diverse, competitive and fun loving.
57 boats have entered so far, and more than 200 are expected on the startline on Friday 22 October.
“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.
“It’s all about getting out there and enjoying the challenge,” he says.
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.”
TeamVodafoneSailing stretching her legs on a practice run © Chris Lewis
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).
There will be a prize pool of $40,000 on offer at the event’s Sunday morning prizegiving.
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 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 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.
HSBC Premier Coastal Classic
