Race Watch 2012

Mark your diaries and tell your crew now: the 2013 race will commence on Friday 25 October. More to come soon. 

Deciding to do your first Coastal Classic can seem like a major undertaking - there is a lot to think about. We are therefore planning two Workshops for the 2013 Coastal Classic. The topics will include planning and preparation for a first time entrant incorporating what you need in terms of safety gear, race readiness, catering, and crew selection, and one on how to get the edge on the racecourse through strategy, tactics, and understanding wind and tide. Dates and location will be advised soon. To get early notification via email, please sign up for our email newsletter or drop us a note with your details, and we'll contact you closer to the time.  

Crac a Jac has crossed the line, and there is not sufficient time left in the race for Lewanne to finish, which means the race is officially over. 

Sigma II is within 100m of the finish line, under spinnaker - which means the North Wester is in. 

Truxton has received a 30% time penalty due to being OCS at the side.  

The final boats will have to be thinking about whether they keep racing, or call it quits. The cut off is midday, tide is helping them, but the breeze is slim to none. We'll keep you posted. 

Enceladus 9119 here. We made it! So slow at the end. It took us as long to get from Brett to Russell as it took Vodafone to do the whole trip. Amazing. Great fun. We set ourselves 24 hrs & managed 21. First time in the Classic so a new benchmark to beat next year. Thanks to all the organisers. Bruce

Elevation the Elliot 7 metre belongs to the Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron, based at Lake Rotoiti (Rotorua) It is the first time a Trailer yacht from our squadron has completed and they are third on handicap in Division 5. Well done to Open Country (div 5) Many of their crew are from BOPTYS also. Well Done

If you are wanting to when a specific boat arrived in Russell, click 'Results' then 'Progress Times'. You can click the headings to sort the columns, and sort out results by division, handicap, line, and class. 

The gust that capsized Dirty Deeds nearly took out Timberwolf too: 

We found the going very tough today, says Tim Willetts, owner of the bright green trimaran that has been turboed and refined more each year.

"We were happy with the start and thought the masthead gennaker would hang in there a little longer than that, but we then blew out the fractional genny, because we stuffed it in the bag"

Timberwolf spent most of the race with two reefs tucked in, and no jib. The maximum wind gust they experienced was 37 knots, but it was the sea state that really effected them.

"At times, the seas were just evil. We found it dangerous over 18knots in the nasty stuff."

Their peak speed was just over 25 knots.  

"To be honest this was a day about seamanship and finishing and we found it hard to push the boat to its full limit."

Seeing Dirty Deeds flip over near Kawau in a massive gust gave them cause to concern.

"It did not help at all seeing the Deeds over, my best wishes to Bobbi and Greer, it's never good but great to hear it is back up again." 

The same gust nearly took out Timberwolf too. "We only survived that gust by seconds as we got our Code Zero [a big foresail] down just in time as another 35 knot gust hit us."

"We are just thrilled to finish, and delighted to win Division 7, we sailed well and Bryan and Klaus did heaps of sails up and down and changes but it was very hard work and now I'm just broken. Hardly even felt like a beer and have already woosed off to bed. A great effort by Crusader that thing really hauls and well done to Borderline for setting a new 8.5 record.

Crac a Jac, the second smallest boat in the fleet, skippered by Edwin Delaat (16) and Laura Dekker (17) is 'becalmed' and the only boat yet to be accounted for after Brett. 

With the conditions lightening off considerably overnight, all others have arrived safely. 11 are recorded as withdrawing after the start. 

At 0430hrs Domino 2 was delighted to report that there are no more Coastal Classic virgins onboard their boat. "Yay the girls, Tessa, Leith and Tracey," reports Tracey. "And the boys who forgot to bring their rum. Many thanks to all the great supporters and organisers for an exceptional event."

Thanks for all the great updates, Tracey! 

Enceladus messaged in just a few minutes ago, that they had just turned onto starboart tack to the finish. "We ghosted across the bays for the last two hrs! Beautiful sunrise. Crew & boat good. Bruce" It sounds like Enceladus had some lovely moments on the water. 

Congratulations to the Crusader 35 which finished tonight at 2002hrs, for what we think will be a new race record for 35 footers. 

At Rangi Light, Triple 8 were doing 28 knots. That's impressive, right? 

TeamVodafoneSailing passed them doing over 40. 

We have a second race record to announce.

By virtue of it being the first time it is being officially honoured, Borderline has set a record for the Open 8.5 class, of 8 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

Borderline finished the race eighth overall on line: an excellent effort for a small boat. 

Borderline is owned by Andrew Potter and was crewed by Kevin Peet and Guy Hewson. 

Rob and Phil were an an aeroplane and couldn't catch Taeping, because the white 13.5m cat owned by Dave Andrews was going toofast. 

Taeping did not get a good start - (Greg was asleep at the wheel and Russell forgot his stopwatch is the excuse provided) 

It was all on when Ran Tan did a massive broach and Taeping was required to take evasive action. 

But it all sorted itself out, and the boat departed Auckland under a reefed main, small jib and screecher, which they dropped and hoisted several times. Eventually two sailing into Cape Rodney, which they screamed past arriving in Bream Bay where they reefed twice and dropped their jib. (Video is coming of this part shortly)

At Bream Bay Taeping saw puffs in excess of 50 and it blew a solid 45. At this point the much bigger Triple 8 enjoyed the eheavy conditions and got away.

After Whangarei Heads it was champagne sailing, with 30 knots and flat water. 

Halfway to Brett, the wind dropped out and Taeping hoisted its main right to the top of the mast, glided through the gap at Brett, reefed the main and went back to small jib, and sailed in to Russell.

Just like that. 

The 50 footers had an epic battle up the coast and into the Bay. 

V5, which was one of the handicapper's two favourites, was the victor, finishing in 8 hours and 37 minutes. V5 is a Transpac 52 design with a great track record in New Zealand waters, V5's owner David Nathan and crew have now had a full year to get to grips with the big blue boat.  V5 placed second in Division 1 in 2011 so this is a great result for the big blue boat. 

Chris Hornell's Kia Kaha was the next to arrive in Russell, in 8 hours and 47 minutes, on Kia Kaha's first ever Coastal Classic, and Chris's 21st consecutive Coastal Classic. Kia Kaha smoked Wired - a 52 foot canting keeler - from Russell Point. Wired finished in 8 hours 55, and Georgia was another five minutes behind. 

The Crusader 35 - a new giant slaying Elliott launched by Salthouse Boatbuilders very recently - finished in 10 hours and 2 minutes. Buckley Systems, the Class40 sailed by Ross Fields in the Global OCean Race, was just a few minutes after that, which marks great racing for these smaller boats. 

Expedition Copellia is South of Cape Brett and experiencing a True Wind Speed of 20 knots, from 70 Apparent. They are making 8 knots of boat speed.

Sally and Rob opted to travel outside the Hen and Chickens. They say there are no extras in sight, and they are all on their own.

P'zzazz is tacking towards Russell now, head to head with Fusion. "It's been a cool ride as high as 21 knots. Yahoo our new speed record!" they say.

Latitude is in the company of dolphins and having some very special moments.  

Here is our correspondent David Saggs, relaxing enroute to Russell. 

As evening settles, the breeze is easing and 12 boats have crossed the line. Their finishing order and elapsed times are: 

It's hot dogs for supper aboard Domino II. The skipper is the chef, and the boat is making steady ground. 

Hot Gossip have shaken out their reef, and the breeze has eased off to the 20s. 

This year's Coastal Classic is doing its part to support the New Zealand marine industry, no moreso than Pretty Boy Floyd, which broke a runner and nearly lost its rig. 

We'd like to say they had a great race until that point, but the incident happened at North Head and the crew have come up to Russell anyway to enjoy the festivities (and the pre-paid accommodation) 

Timberwolf has rounded Brett, and Timberwolf has rounded Brett. 

"We are gutted to be out with a missing rudder," says Gary from Valium. "Huge thanks to the NZ Police and Coastguard for the tow into Gulf Harbour. What we can say with certainty is that we sent it as hard as possible and just to confirm, Spearhead was only a very small dot in the background at the time..."

second behind TeamVodafoneSailing in 2010 and 2011, and looking like she will do the same this year, Triple 8 is rounding Tapeka right now. 

This fifty foot Lock Crowther and Stuart Bloomfield design with a full carbon fibre hull and carbon wing mast, is owned by BMW World Sailing Cup Winner Roger Pagani and has undergone significant foil redevelopment, AC45 style. 

V5, Wired and Kia Kaha have all called in at Brett. 

Here is a pic just in of Bird on a Wire

The Farr 727 crewed by Edwin Delaat and Laura Dekker is approaching sail rock, with Laura helming. He describes the conditions as 'unpleasant' 30 knots, two sail reaching with the breeze from 60 or 80 deg apparent.

Here is a picture of Crac a Jac at the start of the race:

are next to cross the line although neither has called in yet at Brett. Stay tuned. 

By the thinnest of margins, TeamVodafoneSailing has bettered its race record today. They finished at 15:41.44 - less than three minutes under last year's historic race record.

Great going guys! 

Big red sails are in our sights. 

For TVS to break the record they set last year they need to finish before 15:44:31 (3.44pm).

It is literally touch and go. 

Stay tuned. 

It's still early days but interesting nonetheless to look at who is shaping up for handicap honours:

corrected time as at 14:55

div 1 (Sail Rock)

V5, Bare Essentials, Ran Tan - good lead to V5

div 6 (Sail Rock)

PZazz, Taeping, Vodafone, Pzazz is a year in front on h'cap


remainder from Flat Rock :

div 2,Truxton, Pretty Woman, Nosaka

div 3: Pahi, Peppermint Planet, Touchdown

div 4: Splash Palace, Hysteria, Pepe

div 5: Pelagian, Bump n Grind, T Rex

div 7: Whio, Pulse XTC, Fusion X

div 8: WYNDSPELLE, Business First, Latitude

Rudder damage has caused the giant slayer Overload, to pull into Whangarei. 

We are not surprised. Hullabaloo hoisted its Code 7 for four minutes almost precisely, when the 15 knot breeze piped up to 30, and the halyard parted. After a quick retrieve, they are bounding along under their No. 3. Thanks Anne for the update! 

North Head was a great spot to catch things going wrong... 

Like this:

 And this:

TeamVodafoneSailing is around Brett, which makes her touch and go for a record. 

News from Coastguard is that the two boats that were towed home were No Worries and Valium. Dirty Deeds was righted and is under tow to a CG mooring. 

Pulse has reported in from Sail Rock, sailing with deep reefed main and no headsail. It is 'quite' windy, apparently. Here is a pic from aboard the boat with no boom:

Here is what's waiting for you, Tim

While there is a bit of a gap in race corresondence, is a great time to look at how the crew of Tawera are bringing new meaning to the term CoastalClassic

If somebody suggested taking a 77 year old Jaguar and entering it in the Rally of New Zealand they would probably get some strange looks, disapproving words and be dismissed as a bit odd. However, that’s pretty much what the crew of Tawera are planning on doing in this year’s Coastal Classic.

The beautifully restored 1935, 15mtr Logan A Class turns 77 this year and will contest the Coastal Classic in 2012 for the first time in her illustrious history, making her the oldest boat in the fleet by some few decades. Despite Tawera’s advanced year’s owner and skipper Mike Mahoney says they’ve got no intention of taking things easy.

“We’ve raced her fairly hard over the last few years and it’s a competitive bunch aboard so we’re not in this for a pleasure cruise and will be pushing as hard as possible to get a good result. 

“If it’s on the wind we’re going to struggle, but anything with a bit of South in it and hopefully we should be ok.”

Designed by Arch Logan and built by Col Wild, Tawera was launched in December 1935 and was the last A Class keeler designed by the famous Arch Logan. Commissioned by Scott Wilson of the Wilson family who founded the NZ Herald she has been raced and cruised extensively over the last seven decades. The 2012 Coastal Classic however, marks Tawera first foray into coast racing in many years.

 Mike says that racing a yacht closer to 100 than 50 is quite a different challenge from a modern yacht.

 “Reaching and running she’s got a lovely motion and a surprisingly good turn of speed. Being so low to the water though it’s an incredibly wet ride and pretty physical – if it’s a windy you certainly feel it the next day!

 “With the forecast looking the way it is, it’s going to be a pretty furious ride up the coast. Who knows maybe we might be able to surprise a few people and sneak in a good result, but the important thing for us is that we have fun.”

At the moment TVS is just outside record time.

But we are holding hope, of course.

The influx of messages from the fleet has slowed down, which means they are getting tired, their fingers are too cold to text, and they are out of cell phone coverage.  

The answer is nine. 

For some reason the owners of The Duke don't want their grand piano in their main bar tonight. Could it be something to do with a group of sailors being in town? 

They are also taking the chandeliers down. 

Photos from Matt Hall-Smith who was aboard the Te Kouma start boat 

Photos from Cornelia Luethi, at North Head

The fleet of Farr 1020s is one of the biggest One Designs in the race and currently they are sailing four in a line, less than four miles to Rodney, and averaging around 9-10 knots in boatspeed.

"There is another squall coming over, and it is freezing and very black ahead of us," says Mike Lanigan. "Looking back to Auckland we can't see a thing."

Share Delight - which has been chartered by an Australian team - is carrying a number 3, but the other 1020s have number 2s up. "When th breeze freshens and the squalls come through we can sail better and they round up. When it flattens off they pull through," explains Mike. 

The order is Share Delight, L'avanti, Rawhide, Strathespy (two handed) and possibly Echleon.  

Mike says it blew 43 knots as they passed Kawau but that the weather has now softened off and the breeze has eased to 30-35 knots. 

All is well on board. 

And what's for lunch? Hollywood sandwiches. 

A helpful spectator has identified the yacht passing them as Team Vodafone Sailing. Level with the Sugarloaf at 1315. "We watched them change headsail. They are moving, really moving!"

As is Entertainer which has topped out at 18.9 knots. Not bad for a Y11! 

Here is the first batch of pics courtesy Rob Webb, from this morning's race

Click to vie Rob's images 

And images by Peter Loughlin, who was stationed on North Head 

Click to view Peter's images

For rumours, lies, and hey even the occasional fact, check out our Facebook page and follow the earnest discussions 

Dirty Deeds is under tow to Gulf Harbour - all is okay, reports Greer's brother. We are pleased. 

Here's Fiction, off North Passage. Pic by Dave. 

Hullabaloo has just advised that they are eating roast beef and sailad ciabatta rolls for their lunch. I am sitting at The Duke wondering if I should ask for a menu because there are some good smells coming out of the kitchen. Hullabaloo is nearly at Flat Rock and the dolphins have arrived.

The wind has slightly eased, but still making 11 knots. 

The National Rescue Co-ordination Centre has provided the Deodar vessel to stand by as extra support for the crew.

Here is a picture of Escapology, sailing conservatively. 

Are you a PredictWind.com subscriber? If you go to the observations page at PredictWind you will be able to see wind speed average and gusts. Forecasts this morning in PredictWind was around 30knots, which typically you add 30% for gusts. Right now there is 30-40 knots mostly in this range. Tiri however has shot up recently showing average 40-50 recectly.

Keep in mind that the Tiri weather station is 110m above sea level, but even so, this is windy.

David Saggs is sitting near Flat Rock.

He says it is very windy and Georgia is screaming through Tiri under full main and number 2 Genoa. Rantan is equally awesome in her speed, followed by Wired under Gennaker. Steady, guys! A green cat (presumably Timberwolf) is currently bareheaded. 

"This is awesome - what a great ride! Hope these sailors had a hot breakfast because it is also a very wet ride!" he tells. 

I have a report in that Formula 1 has retired, no reason specified 

The Doug Peterson ketch 'Tiki' in Div 4 may be a bluewater cruiser but she is hitting record speeds through Tiri and loving it, says owner Richard Loseby. 

David Saggs has sent these pics in from his spot in Kawau. Does it make you wish you were out there? It does for me. 

And one from Steve Sparks - handing on to your lunch out there, Steve?

Rob Webb and Phil Hart decided not to fly north today (why ever not, boys?) but they did risk their necks taking Phil's light plane up to photograph the start. 

Here is an early pic from Rob's iPhone.

They are home safe now, still shaking from their adrenalin charged flight, and Rob will be sending his images through soon. Thanks guys! 

TeamVodafoneSailing's tracker has reappeared on the screen, and they are well in the lead, parallel with Bream Bay, doing 27.5 knots. 

Dirty Deeds has capsized and a rescue is being conducted. 

We believe that TeamVodafoneSailing has suffered gear failure (possibly a torn mainsail) in the Tiri Passage.  

That leads Triple 888 to lead the fleet. 

My apologies for the delays. The website has received an unprecendented amount of viewers, which caused it to crash. We moved it to a new server, but I was unable to update it until about 20 minutes ago. I am catching up now with what is what, and we are back in business. Report in! Email ccinfo@coastalclassic.co.nz or call/text me on 021 273 5070. Many thank! Zoe 

The pre-start squall - by Cornelia Luethi

The crew of Domino are ready and steady! 

The guys on Young Entertainer 

Georgia in the pre-start, by Michelle Gifoyle

That's all we know. 

If you have something to report drop me a line - 021 273 5070 

1107hrs - Akatea has retired after a string of injuries - one spinnaker is lost overboard, one prod is broken, the headsail can't be hoisted, it's blowing 45 knots and they are heading home.

1137hrs – we aren’t hearing a lot from the sailors, but we are hearing of lumpy seas and difficult conditions. One boat that is keeping in touch is the crew of the big comfy armchair otherwise known as Latitude who are beaming, they are having such a good time. The Young 11 Entertainer has hit 16 knots of boatspeed two sail reaching. Woo hoo! And Hullabaloo is looking at the Tiri Passage, with the Farr 1020s. 

1049hrs – Expedition Copellia enjoyed a clear start, and something they call an ‘exciting pile up’ before the gybe (you are not on the motorway, guys!) – they are sailing with No 2 and full main, 100awa boat speed, 9.5 knots, and TWS 20 knots. 

1030hrs - What a great race it is already! They are away and it’s windy and there is already signs of carnage amongst the fleet.

The boats that did the best were the ones that started to the Devonport Wharf end of the line, and held off their gybe as long as possible. Carrying big gear was all well and good for the start, but the breeze built and went forwards within ten minutes, and yes it did cause problems. Boats that didn’t carry out impeccable gybes (read wraps, shredded sails, Chinese gybes, broaches) included Georgia, Ran Tan, MotionX.

Vodafone is leading the multihulls now but wasn’t always. They started conservatively, possibly in the lee of a container ship that was coming in to one side of the course.

Georgia was the first monohull to North Head and in the second start, Tongue Twister, Pretty Woman and Nosaka led the second start, and Pretty Woman was the first to hoist a masthead gennaker and scoot – but seems unlikelyh to hang on to it for now. In the first 20 minutes, Pahi and Pelagian was leading the Div 3 boats, amidst a rain squall and poor visibility.

The small boats mostly opted to goose wing it.

Early retirees include Attitude, Mako, andCharleston. TRex has broken its prod after a major broach, which will not help their race.

Most of the fleet is conservative – reefed down, cruising up the coast, taking it very cautiously. 

You obviously really like this race - we had so many visits this morning that it crashed the site. I have got a lot of texts, photos, and commentary to catch up on and I am working hard on it now! 

The Chelsea freighter will be sailing through the race course at 10am. Please take care. 

Sally and Rob left Gulf Harbour an hour ago and have already been drenched and spat out, by a 30 knot Squall. Good old Auckland - it's warm and sunny in Russell.

Meanwhile, Domino II, a loyal race correspondent in 2011, is about to head to the racecourse, led by Tracey and a team of seven, including two girls that are Coastal Classic newbies. I have requested a photo. 

Anne on Hullabaloo is busy wooling up kites and looking forward to a fast trip. Not my favourite job I have to say, and the crew of the Young 11, Entertainer, are fully amped and ready, and a 14m Cruising Cat in Div 6, called P'zzaz, are donning lifejackets and rearing to go.

Here's a picture of a commuter to the racecourse, taken by Matt and Hamish, aboard the RNZYS boat, Te Kouma, dodging an incoming ship and waiting to anchor. 

Fun n Games withdrew last night and Pot Black and Takahoa have advised their withdrawal this morning, but we are expecting around 170 starters.

This is the team that will be stationed around the Hauraki Gulf, feeding info in to me in Russell, to put on the website. Once the boats are out of sight, they will report in to us by text and email. If you see something please get in touch: 0212735070 is my number, or email ccinfo@coastalclassic.co.nz 

Nigel Cherrie – Journalist and Trans Tasman Rower Nigel Cherrie will be stationed at North Head and reporting in on what he sees 

Andrew Beswick – Andrew is our official race photographer and will be aboard the RNZYS's purpose designed Media Boat.

Matt Hall Smith – from his position aboard the RNZYS's start boat, Matt will have a straight line view of who is on the pace... and who isn't. Matt is a current Commodore of French Bay Yacht Club, and National Champion in the Jollyboat centreboard class.

John Rountree – From aboard the RNZYS Media Boat, JR will keep us informed about what's up at the pointy end of the fleet 

Steve Smith – After 12 years of Coastal Classics, Steve is sitting this year's race out but will phone in from his launch, called Hot Diggerdy, to let us know what's up amongst Div 1 and 2 racers.

Michelle Gifoyle - A born and bread kiwi sailor from Devonport Michelle has competed in numerous Coastal Classics, on her family yacht Ta'Aroa (from which she will be observing the race today), Stewart 34's, Green Hornet and the 727 Crac a Jac.

Peter Loughlin – yachtsman Peter Loughlin will be stationed at Rangi Light aboard his trailer sailer Elliott Energy, with a Canon 5D and waterproof handicam. 

Cornelia Luethi – Freelance writer Cornelia owns the Elliot racer FX and will be watching avidly from North Head – and letting us know the latest gossip as the boats round the corner and start the first leg of their long journey.

Rob Webb - by day Rob works in finance but his real passions are sailing, flying and photography. And the annual CC gives Rob a great opportunity to combine all three by taking to the air with friend and fellow sailor Philip Hart in Phil's plane. Rob is a keen amateur photographer rather than a pro so does his best for nil wage but appreciates a bottle of rum from any happy recipients of his photographic efforts to kick-start the booz locker aboard his Lidgard 35 Aily's Comet for the new sailing season.

Jon Vincent – Jon is Event Director and will be reporting in from his watch-spot on Tamaki Drive.

David Saggs will be stationed at Flat Rock on his Lagoon 450 and will give us the latest on the frontrunners as the fleet arrives at Kawau. Then he'll be hoisting sails for the journey to Russell.

And me, Zoe Hawkins. I will be in Russell, ensconced at The Duke on the waterfront, with my ear glued to the phone, and my fingers flying over the keyboard, taking everything these guys can tell me and putting it into the website as quickly as possible for you, the followers and supporters of this year's NZMYC. Bring it on! 

Remember my number: 021 273 5070

0700hrs It is great to be here in the winterless north. I hear there is some rain and wind in Auckland but I can assure you the sky is blue and the sea is champagne, from my spot above the town.

The forecast conditions have not moderated overnight, and it is definitely going to be a fast race. Currently the PredictWind.com routing suggests that TeamVodafoneSailing will be able to finish the race in around 3.5 hours. Keeping in mind that last year's record was 5 hours 43 minutes, this is going to be a fast race. Of course, real life factors will bring this time up, but it does mean there is a great chance of shaving some time off last year's great acheivement. 

If you are in a Young 11, the computer says you can expect to finish in about 10 hours, and the Open 8.5s in around 4.5 hours.

The boats are going to encounter 20-30 knots from the WSW off the start and they will be focused on keeping safe and out of trouble, sailing in clear air and of course, winning the race.

Riada and her crew of 'lads and dads' are one of the teams that we'll be following as they sail up the coast: 

Riada is a 1975 Laurie Davidson design of forty five foot (13.7m), says owner John Bertenshaw, and this year she provides the setting for what is possibly the last opportunity for three fathers to sail together with their teenage sons, before they finish school and head out into the world. 

In the mid 70s, Riada, a ketch, was one of the boats to watch. She was designed as a fast cruiser of the day and is an exceptionally well built boat and very good sea boat. Riada is wooden, very strongly built of cold moulded construction with four skins of Kauri, by the Donald Brothers of Tauranga.

John says that she's made several ocean voyages over her life and is a delight to sail.

"I've sailed to Tonga and Fiji the last two years on her sister ship Riada II and she also is an absolute pleasure to be aboard. Both totally robust and seaworthy boats. We bought Riada in 2007 after 25 years cruising and classic racing the old Charles Bailey gaff rig B class, Waione."

John will sail with old friends Tony Tyndall and Dave Woodward, men are he met through sailing and who have cruised together as families  over the last  20 years or so and have grown into great family friends because of it. The boys, Tom Bertenshaw 17, Jake Tyndall 17 and Gavin Woodward 16, are each doing their first Coastal Classics, although all of the fathers have done several before. John himself has done eight. 

"Who knows what they could be doing next year," says John, "we're going into the race with the attitude of having fun and enjoying the challenge, and making the boys do most of the work."

Good luck Riada. We'll look forward to keeping in touch with your race as you sail north. 

To anyone reading this who would like to be involved in race reporting, please email ccinfo@coastalclassic.co.nz or call Zoe on 021 273 5070.

We are getting ready for coverage of the 2012 race north. We have ateam of sailing enthusiasts stationed around Auckland and up the coast to capture what's happening as the fleet departs Devonport under cannon fire and heads up the coast to Russell, and it will all be reported here on the race website. 

If you'd like to join the team, or send updates from your boat, please plug these details into your phone:

Phone (for voice calls, txt, pxt): 021 273 5070 

Email (for messages, video, photos): zoe@wildemedia.co.nz 

This page will come live on race day - until then, happy sailing.

The 2012 Coastal Classic race begins on the 19th October. Make sure to check back into the Race Watch where you will be able to watch the race unfold.