9:30: 2026 PIC Coastal Classic fleet underway for Russell

The 2026 PIC Coastal Classic is underway, with the first yachts racing north from Auckland on the 119 nautical mile course to Russell.

The 2026 PIC Coastal Classic is underway, with the fleet leaving Auckland this morning on its annual dash north to Russell in the Bay of Islands.

The first boats are already racing along the coast, with crews looking for every available breath of wind as they settle into the opening stages.

Light conditions are expected to make this year's race a tactical contest. The forecast suggests crews could face a particularly slow passage north of Cape Rodney, where finding pressure may prove more important than outright boat speed.

For the faster yachts, the challenge will be to keep moving through the lighter patches. Further back, smaller boats could find opportunities as the fleet encounters changing conditions along the coast.

With 119 nautical miles ahead, the race is only just beginning. The decisions crews make over the next few hours could shape the order into Russell.

Go Boating will follow the fleet's progress throughout the race.

Coastal Classic fleet lines up under grey skies, with Russell a long way off

With 20 minutes to the start, the PIC Coastal Classic fleet is filling the harbour off Devonport. It’s ideal weather for a cruise up the coast. For a race to Russell, less so.

The sky is overcast and the breeze is close to what PredictWind’s Nick Olson has been forecasting all week. There’s enough to get the fleet over the line and heading north. Few skippers expect it to hold all the way.

At Thursday’s briefing, Olson’s forecast was a reasonable start, a soft patch past Cape Rodney and a long night for most of the fleet. Mike Sanderson had already given crews his own advice for these conditions: travel light, clean the hull and leave the moaners on the dock.

Out on the water, the forecast hasn’t put anyone off. Plenty of crews look like they’ve come out to enjoy the day, wherever the breeze runs out.

Following the fleet

Roger Mills is photographing the start from Bastion Point. Kirsten and Chris are on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, looking across to Tiritiri Matangi, where the leaders should have broken away by the time they pass.

Later in the day we move north for shots along the coast, then on to Russell. The way the wind reports look, the first finishers may arrive just before breakfast tomorrow.

Boats to watch

No one is defending line honours this year. Last year’s line honours winner Lucky and runner-up Callisto are missing from the entry list. Dougall Love’s Rapido 60 trimaran Romanza won line honours in 2024 and starts as one of the favourites. Charles Brown’s Davidson 66 Antaeus is the biggest monohull in the fleet. On a light day, though, results will probably be decided on handicap.

Malcolm Dickson is also on the start line. He has won the Solo Trans-Tasman twice, and today he starts his first Coastal Classic, sailing Sarau two-handed with his 16-year-old granddaughter Lily. There are 63 years between them.

The gun fires at 10am. Follow the race in Go Boating’s Coastal Classic coverage.

9:30: 2026 PIC Coastal Classic fleet underway for Russell

The 2026 PIC Coastal Classic is underway, with the first yachts racing north from Auckland on the 119 nautical mile course to Russell.

The 2026 PIC Coastal Classic is underway, with the fleet leaving Auckland this morning on its annual dash north to Russell in the Bay of Islands.

The first boats are already racing along the coast, with crews looking for every available breath of wind as they settle into the opening stages.

Light conditions are expected to make this year's race a tactical contest. The forecast suggests crews could face a particularly slow passage north of Cape Rodney, where finding pressure may prove more important than outright boat speed.

For the faster yachts, the challenge will be to keep moving through the lighter patches. Further back, smaller boats could find opportunities as the fleet encounters changing conditions along the coast.

With 119 nautical miles ahead, the race is only just beginning. The decisions crews make over the next few hours could shape the order into Russell.

Go Boating will follow the fleet's progress throughout the race.

Coastal Classic fleet lines up under grey skies, with Russell a long way off

With 20 minutes to the start, the PIC Coastal Classic fleet is filling the harbour off Devonport. It’s ideal weather for a cruise up the coast. For a race to Russell, less so.

The sky is overcast and the breeze is close to what PredictWind’s Nick Olson has been forecasting all week. There’s enough to get the fleet over the line and heading north. Few skippers expect it to hold all the way.

At Thursday’s briefing, Olson’s forecast was a reasonable start, a soft patch past Cape Rodney and a long night for most of the fleet. Mike Sanderson had already given crews his own advice for these conditions: travel light, clean the hull and leave the moaners on the dock.

Out on the water, the forecast hasn’t put anyone off. Plenty of crews look like they’ve come out to enjoy the day, wherever the breeze runs out.

Following the fleet

Roger Mills is photographing the start from Bastion Point. Kirsten and Chris are on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, looking across to Tiritiri Matangi, where the leaders should have broken away by the time they pass.

Later in the day we move north for shots along the coast, then on to Russell. The way the wind reports look, the first finishers may arrive just before breakfast tomorrow.

Boats to watch

No one is defending line honours this year. Last year’s line honours winner Lucky and runner-up Callisto are missing from the entry list. Dougall Love’s Rapido 60 trimaran Romanza won line honours in 2024 and starts as one of the favourites. Charles Brown’s Davidson 66 Antaeus is the biggest monohull in the fleet. On a light day, though, results will probably be decided on handicap.

Malcolm Dickson is also on the start line. He has won the Solo Trans-Tasman twice, and today he starts his first Coastal Classic, sailing Sarau two-handed with his 16-year-old granddaughter Lily. There are 63 years between them.

The gun fires at 10am. Follow the race in Go Boating’s Coastal Classic coverage.