Coastal Classic

HSBC Premier Coastal Classic Profile:

Open 8.5s - a new breed of fast cat returns in strength



A new breed of racer promises more knots for dollars than any other class, whilst honouring the great Kiwi tradition of buying a boat on the cheap and tinkering and tweaking it in the boat shed out the back.

The boats – which are called ‘Open 8.5s’ – are multihulls that fit within a box 8.5 x 6.5 x 12.6 metres. Other than that and requirements including minimum headroom for comfortable cruising, minimum weight to ensure robustness, and cost minimisation by prohibiting the use of exotic materials, nearly anything goes.

The rule was originally created by a number of sailors who owned and raced GBEs and were looking for a way to get some growth in the multihull fleet and better racing. It made use of many of the old Great Barrier Express boats that were being underutilised in New Zealand and Australia. The Great Barrier Express or 'GBE' was designed in 1974 by Malcolm Tennant for Richard Pilkington so that he could shuttle quickly and cheaply to and from his property on Great Barrier Island. He began building them in fibreglass and got a "Boat of the Show" award to the Auckland Boatshow on his first year of making them (1976), and over 300 GBE royalties were sold.

Open 8.5s cover a broad range of price levels. Tim McDowell, who is one of the people responsible for driving the class ahead, says there are currently three for sale, priced between $16,000 and $65,000. He says it would cost approximately $50,000 to build one yourself, but you could spend over $100,000.

“They offer more knots per dollar than any other class, and you can still go away on them at Christmas with the kids,” he says.

Additionally, they are easily sailed with just three crew.

“This minimises hassle for owners getting people organised, and ensures everyone on the boat is busy nearly all of the time.”

The latest new launch was Dirty Deeds, whose performance has impressed everyone. She can occasionally beat last year’s HSBC Premier Coastal Classic winner, the 13.7 metre Taeping, and large monohulls with can cost ten or twenty times the amount Dirty Deeds cost to launch.



Several other boats are in build, and several old GBEs are being purchased and given ‘nose and bum jobs’ meaning waterline length is extended and bigger and bigger square topped mains and masthead spinnakers are added. Four more will be relaunched in the new year, including Tim’s own boat, WHIO.

Recent performances suggest that Dirty Deeds is clear line honours favourite within the class for the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic, but this is a race where anything can happen, so prepare to be surprised by these feisty little felines that are now one of the country’s most popular modes of sailng.

The 119 nautical mile HSBC Premier Coastal Classic starts from 10am on Friday 24 October off Devonport Whart in Auckland and finishes off Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands. As well as welcoming back principle sponsor HSBC, the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic is supported by some of New Zealand’s pre-eminent marine companies: Donaghys Southern Ocean, Harken, Line 7, Cookson Boats and Sail NZ, as well as the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Steinlager, Maxxium, the Sunday Star Times, Trade-A-Boat magazine, De Walt, Dirty Dog and Yamaha Motors NZ.

The race website, www.coastalclassic.co.nz will be updated throughout the event with radio positions, photos, messages from boats and commentary.