Scheduled for a Friday 22 October start, the iconic PIC Coastal Classic from Auckland to Russell is now some three months away, and organisers have published the Notice of Race and opened entries.

As New Zealand’s biggest coastal yacht race and one of the largest of its kind in the world, the PIC Coastal Classic marks the traditional opening of the Kiwi boating season. This year’s event (the 39th) introduces a few changes.

“With the commitment and support of PIC Insurance Brokers behind us for the next three years,” says Greer Houston, commodore of the organising body (the NZ Multihull Yacht Club), “we’ve been able to introduce some upgrades.

“First, we’ve made a commitment to hosting a Clean Regatta. We’re increasingly mindful of our environmental impact and have plans in place to influence our community to do better for the Waitematā, the Bay of Islands, and the coastline from Auckland to Russell.”

Participants will also notice a change to the start time and sequence for some divisions, and modified divisional splits based on the size and speed of the boat sailed. For boats sailing in the non-competitive 36° Brokers Cruising Rally division, the number of hours where the yacht’s engine can be used has increased to five hours.

THE NOTICE OF RACE, NOTICE OF RALLY, AND LINK FOR ENTERING ONLINE CAN BE FOUND ON THE PIC COASTAL CLASSIC WEBSITE: WWW.COASTALCLASSIC.CO.NZ