News

Hawaiian shirts, ETNZ lookalike gear, or Steinlager kit – crew outfits are one of 36° Brokers favourite parts of the PIC Coastal Classics’ cruising rally division. 

After all, the rally is intended to provide a more ‘relaxed’ approach to the 120 nautical mile journey from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. 

While the competitive race boats slug it out, changing sails and scouring the weather map for the best wind shifts, the rally boats can enjoy a total of 4 hours of motoring, keep the fridges running, and watch the spectacle unfold around them.  

This division encourages newcomers to the race, giving cruisers a chance to participate while also enjoying the creature comforts of their boats. 

“We’re thrilled to be sponsoring this division once more and we see it as a great way of bringing cruisers together and enjoying their boats. At the end of the day not all yachties are competitive sailors, so this gives cruisers a chance to enjoy their creature comforts while still taking part in this great event,” says 36° owner Conrad Gair.  

The cruising fleet for this event has grown since the divisions’ inception four years ago, and organisers are hoping to see another successful year. 

Here’s a brief rundown of what goes down:

• Rally starts prior to the race boats, 8 am off Devonport Wharf
• PHRF Handicap not required
• 4 hours of motoring allowed
• Spinnakers optional
• Prizes for best dressed crew, and best moment captured in our photo contest. 
• Pre-event on 14 September at RNZYS in conjunction with event organisers. 
• Meet & Greet prior to prizegiving at Hones Beer Garden in Russell on 24 October. 

This year we’re adding the pre-event to the mix, which will be hosted by Coastal Classic organisers at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and give cruisers a chance to meet each other along with some of the racing crews on 14 September. Stay tuned for more details to come on this, and we would love to see you there whether you’ve entered, thinking about entering, or just want a bit more information. 

So spread the word across your cruising friends and family, and get your entries in. Start brainstorming your crew uniform ideas and get ready for another cracker of an event. 

We’re looking forward to having you involved!