Double America's Cup winning helmsman - and Kiwi nemesis - Jimmy Spithill will cast his Australian loyalties aside, sailing for a Kiwi syndicate in the Coastal Classic later this month.
Spithill, 38, will gear up with Kiwi side Frank Racing, taking the role of tactician of the trimaran in the race from Devonport Wharf in Auckland to Russell, beginning on October 20.
The race features over 100 starters, with participants ranging from small keel boats, to mono and multihull goliaths.
Speaking to Fairfax, Spithill said that he was looking forward to the challenge of competing in the race for the first time.
"[It] looks like a great race and should be a heap of fun," he said.
"I've flown helicopters along that coast but always wanted to see it all from a boat. Hopefully we get good breeze."
The Aussie helmsman is one of the greatest sailors of all time, having lifted the America's Cup twice with Oracle Team USA, in 2010 and 2013 respectively, but was beaten by Team New Zealand in Bermuda this year to lose his grip of the Auld Mug.
For the record, Spithill's new Frank Racing teammates just happen to hold the overall record time for the race, completing the 119 nautical mile challenge in just five hours and 13 minutes back in 2014.
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