The Coastal Classic Yacht Race from Devonport Wharf to Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands, is New Zealand’s premier fleet yacht race and has been held annually at Labour weekend since its inception in 1982.

The original concept was the inspiration of Roger Dilley from the then Auckland Multihull Sailing Association (now the NZ Multihull Yacht Club) loosely based on the speed record attempts by power boats dating back to the 1920′s over the same course.

Roger’s original idea developed into being a full on drag race with the first boat into Russell being the overall winner. AMSA then put the challenge out to all multihull and keeler owners to join this non-stop race to the bar in Russell, push their boats and crews to the max and overall have an exhilarating fun weekend.

Twelve intrepid skippers and crews took up the challenge and when Roger put the final magic touch to the race by dreaming up the name – the “Coastal Classic” had arrived. The fleet was divided into one multihull division and several monohulls, by length but no handicap. Boats ranged in size from the Peter Williams’ 62 foot Fidelis down to Alex and Mathew Flynn’s 24-foot trimaran Gulf Chariot.

The inaugural Coastal Classic Yacht Race began in light conditions at 0900hrs Saturday October 23rd with monohull Fidelis leading the fleet past North Head. Multihulls Krisis and Sundancer got into the action as the winds freshened once out of the inner harbour with their match racing and fierce competitiveness from there onwards setting the scene for all Coastal Classic races to come.

Krisis, skippered by Duncan (Cookie) Stuart was the first boat into Russell and his record of 18 hours was not broken for 4 years, although the armchair experts thought it would be easily broken. Andrew Wallace on his Farr 11.6 keeler Hawkeye waved the flag for the monohulls by finishing a creditable 50 minutes behind the first two speedy multis.

Headlines and quotes from 1982 -

“Where do you sleep on these things?” – “You don’t!”
( Experienced offshore skipper Ray Hasler asks Cookie Stuart of Krisis )
Tense Battle for Honours – (8 O’Clock News)
Multi-hulls show way – (Russell correspondent)
Krisis scoots in 3 hours clear – (NZ Herald)
Sundancer goes wrong way – (NZ Herald)
A Thrash from Devonport to Russell – ‘Terrific! In the middle of Piercy channel at midnight. The foam on rocks is only yards away. Ray, couldn’t we just go about now…..pleeease?’ (Shane Kelly from Seaspray onboard Krisis’)