Five weeks out from the 2025 Coastal Classic, the mood across Auckland's sailing community has a familiar edge to it. The fleet is taking shape, the safety framework has been updated, and a growing number of crews are putting in the hard preparation work that separates a confident race day from a chaotic one. With the fleet due to line up off Devonport Wharf, the buzz is unmistakable.
Dotted around the waterfront, boats and their crews are running through reefing drills, practising man-overboard recoveries, and working on sail-handling routines. At a recent Coastal Safety Clinic, Simon Hull put it plainly: thorough preparation is everything. The sailors who rehearse the difficult scenarios beforehand are the ones who spend race day actually racing, rather than recovering from avoidable mistakes.
*Safety gets an upgrade*
This year brings a meaningful change to the safety requirements for offshore racing. Yachting New Zealand has introduced a new rule mandating that every CAT 3 vessel carry a GPS-enabled EPIRB registered to that specific boat. Under previous rules, a personal locator beacon or an EPIRB would both satisfy the requirement. PLBs remain recommended for individual crew members, but the new vessel-specific EPIRB requirement means that if something goes wrong offshore, rescuers will receive a precise, boat-specific alert. The change represents a step forward in accountability and offshore safety.
*Rally gains momentum*
Running alongside the main race, the Coastal Classic Rally is attracting considerable attention. Designed around production and cruising yachts, the Rally offers a different way into the PIC Coastal Classic experience. Rather than competing for line honours, Rally participants travel north in good company, with options that let each crew set their own pace.
A revised two-day format adds to the appeal, allowing boats to depart from their home ports or join the course at shorter intervals, which broadens the event's reach across a wide range of sailors and schedules. Organisers report strong early interest, reflecting genuine demand for a more accessible, social version of the classic passage north. Entries will open through the Top Yacht system, with logistics still being finalised. For many participants, the Rally promises the same spirit and camaraderie that define the Coastal Classic, arrived at by a more relaxed route.
*Final clinics on the horizon*
Two preparation sessions remain before the start gun fires. On Tuesday 7 October, the Boat Prep and Safety Clinic will cover night sailing, onboard communications, and course planning. A fortnight later, on Monday 20 October, the Forecast and Tactics Clinic will focus on weather systems and race strategy. Both sessions are expected to draw strong turnouts from crews looking to sharpen their thinking ahead of the big departure.
*Fleet taking shape*
Forty-nine boats have already committed to the race, comprising 43 monohulls and six multihulls. The entry list spans everything from powerful 50-foot racing machines to nimble two-person sportsboats, with cruiser-racers and classic designs filling out the field in between. The multihull contingent adds another dimension to the spectacle, with sleek 8.5s and larger offshore-capable designs set to generate plenty of pace up the course.
The variety of makes and models reflects the breadth of New Zealand's sailing culture. Modern European performance yachts line up alongside Kiwi-built Ross and Elliott designs, while the home clubs of the competitors stretch from Auckland and Northland to Bay of Plenty and beyond. Entries flying the flags of RNZYS, RYC, SSANZ, OCC, and a range of smaller coastal clubs underline just how widely the Coastal Classic resonates across the country's sailing community.
The Coastal Classic holds a particular place in the New Zealand sailing calendar, drawing in sailors from different backgrounds and different corners of the country. The updated safety standards, the Rally's growing following, and the strength of the entry list all signal that the 2025 edition is shaping up to be another memorable run north. With five weeks still to go, anticipation is already running high.
