Episode 23 - Coastal Classic Race 2025 – Beating a Hanse 545 in Division 8 (Full Tactics!)

Welcome back to Part 2 of our 2025 Coastal Classic adventure aboard SV Thistle! If you missed the action, strategy, and chaos of Part 1, make sure to watch that first — because this episode picks up right where we left off: hunting for wind off Tiritiri Matangi, and defending our lead against our fierce Division 8 rival, Persevere (a Hanse 545). With fickle breeze, tactical gambles, and narrow separation, the second half of the race turns into a mental and tactical chess match. As the wind shifts and fades, Persevere closes the gap, threatening the lead we fought so hard to earn. But SV Thistle refuses to back down. In This Episode: ⚓ Chasing elusive wind around the outer edge of Tiritiri Matangi ⚓ A tense downwind duel as Persevere closes to just 2 miles ⚓ Smart tactical calls that put Thistle back in control ⚓ Flying along at 9–10 knots in fresh breeze toward Sugarloaf Rock ⚓ Persevere’s “creative” navigation… which sends them outside the race limits east of the Poor Knights ⚓ Three painful hours becalmed off Cape Brett ⚓ Thistle accelerating from 0.5 knots to full speed with careful sail trim, keel adjustments, and patience ⚓ A dramatic overtake at Hole in the Rock ⚓ Division 8 victory — two years in a row! 🎉 ⚓ Coastal Classic prizegiving and celebrations ⚓ Our high-speed overnight delivery sail back to Auckland at 9–10+ knots ⚓ A nighttime navigation lesson covering masthead lights, sidelights, and vessel identification ⚓ A 3:30 a.m. arrival into Auckland after an incredible run down the coast This episode captures everything we love about the Coastal Classic: strategy, frustration, big wins, good humour, questionable decision-making, and the raw joy of squeezing every knot out of SV Thistle, our performance cruising ketch designed and built in New Zealand. Stick around for the next episode where we return to our North Island circumnavigation, encounter some epic scenery, and deal with some major gear failures aboard Thistle. Thanks for watching — don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share the journey with your mates! Fair winds, team! #CoastalClassic #SailingNewZealand #SVThistle #SailingVlog #YachtRacing #AucklandToRussell #PerformanceCruiser #KetchRig #SailingLife #BoatLife