| New Zealand. Take part in 25th HSBC Coastal Classic and make yachting history |
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; "2003 Coastal Class start: © Chris Cameron Marine Photography")
| Friday, 29 September 2006 | |
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Zoe Hawkins-Wilde: Organisers are calling for New Zealand sailors to make quarter century celebrations of the HSBC Coastal Classic the biggest ever. Now in its 25th year, the HSBC Coastal Classic is a 119 nautical mile sprint from Devonport Wharf in Auckland, to Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands. It commences at 10am on Friday 20 October 2006, and the first boats, conditions permitting, will finish later the same night. To celebrate the quarter century, the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club is planning a very special weekend in Russell. The social calendar begins on the Friday evening, with a race party at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel for support crews, sponsors, and any boats that have already finished the race. Saturday night, the traditional race party night, has adopted a ‘beach party’ theme this year and will be kicked off with Hawaiian shirts and Leis free to party goers – 200 shirts and 1,000 leis are being given to the first arrivals at the Duke of Marlborough Tavern. Drink specials from both Steinlager and Mount Gay Rum, music from the Loose Cannons, and a special dance floor will be on offer. Water taxis will run through the night to ferry party goers back to any of the 200 plus yachts in the harbour, which double as damp yet welcome sleeping quarters for most. On Sunday morning, at the prizegiving where $40,000 in prizes will be given away, a jumbo bacon sandwich will also be dished up by chef Duncan ‘Cookie’ Stuart who helped to found the HSBC Coastal Classic 25 years ago. For $5, sailors will receive a truly hearty breakfast, which includes four slices of bacon on thick bread, fresh orange juice and hot coffee – a pick-me-up for those with headaches and an appetite, before the sail home. The township of Russell is also celebrating its historic link with the event with a special festival that is likely to include a craft fair, a cocktail casino, a culinary fare, a cook off and more, involving many of the local characters and businesses. Norman Wilson of HSBC says that he is, in particular, looking forward to the party that Russell will host this year. “Sailors are famous for knowing how to celebrate after a race. The history of the HSBC Coastal Classic is entwined with that of the town of Russell, and the party will be at the Duke of Marlborough Tavern, the same location as the prizegiving for the first ever race in 1982,” he says. “The bank enjoys being involved with this event because it is so social and such a big part of the community, both in Auckland and in the Bay of Islands.” The HSBC Coastal Classic commences at 10am on Friday 22 October. It is New Zealand’s most famous coastal yacht race, starting in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and finishing at Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands. Sponsors include HSBC, Sunday Star-Times, Mount Gay Rum, Steinlager, Masport, Doyle Sails, Dirty Dog, Yamaha, Navman, Loaded Hog, Russell Cottages, Trade-A-Boat, Dubarry, Line 7, SailNZ, the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Loaded Hog, Telecom, De Walt, and Crew.org.nz.. The prize pool is worth $40,000. Race info: The Great Race North The date: Friday 20 October 2006 The course: 119nm from Devonport Wharf to Russell Wharf The authority: The New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club The sponsor: HSBC, the world’s local bank The fleet: Up to 300 of our greatest race yachts Current multihull record: 7h20.51 set by Split Enz in 1996 Current monohull record: 8h29.50 set by Zana Konica Minolta in 2005 Website: www.coastalclassic.co.nz |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 29 September 2006 ) |
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