Since the 1980s PIC has been a great supporter of grassroots boating. These days it supports no less than twelve boating clubs and events.
Why?
“Sponsoring clubs and regattas is a great way to help keep the sport alive,” says PIC spokesperson Daniel Garner. Like his father Mike, who founded PIC in the 1980s, Daniel is an avid boatie. But while Mike loves powerboats, Daniel is a yachtie who bought his first boat at age 17 and has owned three yachts.
PIC, which is a locally owned company owned and operated by Aucklanders, supports Bucklands Beach Yacht Club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, Counties Sports Fishing, Waikawa Boating Club, Pine Harbour Cruising Club, Beachlands Boating Club, and the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
And its events include Auckland Regatta, Bay Week, the Gold Cup, and recently its first dinghy regatta, the Sir Peter Blake Regatta - an event primarily focused on youth sailing.
PIC is also an avid sponsor of club netball and rugby.
Daniel explains that clubs in all these disciplines need all the support they can get. “We love the community feel, and we are privileged to be able to support these clubs,” he says.
In recent years Daniel is busy as part of the management of PIC Insurance Brokers and its team of 80 staff, so has less time these days to explore his sailing pursuits. At Labour Weekend he is involved as a sponsor rather than a competitor, but he has fresh enough memories of sitting on the rail of a Farr 1020 on a long haul upwind race to Russell in recent years, to know what is going through the mind of crew and boat owners.
“We love the out of town events and regattas,” he says, which includes the Coastal’s famous party and prize giving in Russell. "They have a great atmosphere and the off water events provide a great time for camaraderie away from the competitive on water sport.”
Our thoughts as organisers of the PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic? “PIC is a company that is genuinely supporting our sport,” says event director Matt Flynn. “The best way you can say thanks to PIC is by giving them an opportunity to quote on your insurance requirements. They are a great company and at the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club we really enjoy working with them to deliver this event.”