In June, Ben Ball sailed Camellia to second place on corrected time in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman. Today, he heads north solo aboard the 50-year-old Cavalier 36 in the 2026 PIC Coastal Classic. Another adventure awaits, along with a reunion with his Solo Trans-Tasman comrades in Russell.
“There’s no chance I’m going to win,” Ball told us at last night’s skippers’ briefing. For him, the appeal lies in another solo adventure and catching up with his Tasman comrades in Russell.
Having fulfilled a 36-year ambition to cross the Tasman, the Waiheke Island skipper is revisiting a race closer to home. He last sailed the Coastal Classic 10 or 15 years ago. This time, he has a roast ready in the galley and diesel from his Australian adventure still in the tank.
“It’s a weekend on the boat,” he said, “which is better than mowing my lawns.”
Waiting for prize-giving
Ball had planned only a short stay in Australia after the Solo Trans-Tasman. But Camellia made a quicker crossing than expected, leaving him nearly a week to fill in Southport before prize-giving.
After prize-giving, Ball took Camellia cruising up the Brisbane River and across to Redcliffe, where he’d gone to school. He also caught up with family he hadn’t seen in 30 years, rounding out three weeks away.
Leaks, but nothing broken
Camellia took a beating on the race to Southport. Ball had to bail half a tonne of water from the cabin after the anchor locker overflowed. The new windows leaked too, while water also found its way in through the mast.
“Nothing structural, nothing serious,” he said. “She’s a tough old girl.” With the leaks fixed, Ball has Camellia ready for her next adventure.
Five hours of motoring isn’t enough
Ball knows where Camellia finds her pace. She sails well with the wind forward of the beam. But seven knots from astern leaves only four or five knots of apparent wind, making progress painfully slow.
With Russell the destination either way, he considered switching to the cruising rally. Then he discovered its five-hour motoring allowance might not be enough to get him there in the forecast conditions.
So racing it is.
Further out than the router says
Ball is considering a different approach from the one outlined at Thursday night’s briefing. PredictWind’s Nick Olson urged crews to stay near the course, rather than head offshore searching for breeze.
“I’d be more inclined to go a little bit further offshore,” Ball said.
He hopes to find steadier wind and more room away from the fleet. With another 94 boats racing north, falling asleep is his biggest concern. The kitchen timer that helped him across the Tasman is back aboard to wake him for regular checks. He’s also hoping for a bright moon and clear skies.
The solo three
Ball joins two other solo skippers on the start line. Fellow Tasman finisher Peter Bourke is racing his restored kauri yacht Diablo. Mike Phear is aboard the Bull 12000 Bullistic.
There would have been four, but Dickson’s granddaughter Lily persuaded him to race Sarau two-handed.
For Ball, reaching Russell solo will be a result worth celebrating. “If I finish it, I’ll be well pleased.”
Follow Camellia and the rest of the fleet in Go Boating’s Coastal Classic coverage.
