| At sea. Melbourne to Vanuatu Race: Andrew Short leads by 400 miles with tight battle for placings |
|
|
|
| Saturday, 08 July 2006 | |
|
Event media: While the Sydney sailor Andrew Short from the CYCA, only has to keep his rig in his Volvo 60 to win line honours in the leg one of the South Pacific Boomerang series leg one, 1850 miles from Melbourne to Vanuatu, the battle is certainly heating up for the minor placings, as the fleet transitions the 'Horse latitudes'. The 2003 Wolvo Ocean Race last leg winner, sailing as djuice has proven his strength in these long passages. At the 5:35am radio sked this morning, Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine was 231 miles south south west of Noumea, 400 miles ahead of the next boat and expected to finish Monday afternoon. Angus Fletcher's Tevake II was clinging onto second place, 162 miles north east of Lord Howe Island, but only ten miles behind her the 66 footer Nautilus Marine Insurance Helsal II is surging through the fleet; overnight she overtook the Open 60 Gusto. Sailing Manager Simon 'Slim' Dryden had predicted that, when the famous pocket maxi sailed through the 'horse latitudes', as she has now done, into the trade winds she would overhaul many of her smaller rivals. However there is an interesting time ahead, as Gusto being sailed double handed by Brian Pattinson and Pat Guidice is a much faster boat, if the angle heats up. On IRC Handicap Mike Welsh's Alien, leads Tevake II and Lady Godiva. On Performance Handicap it's Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club entry Ocean Skins with Nautilus Marine Insurance Helsal II in third place. In the double handed division, the James Ryssenbeek and Andre McCole Sayer 11 metre Runaway leads Gusto and Outlaw. Conditions have eased across the fleet, seas have flattened and last night on Lord Howe Island, the wind was a steady 17-20 knots from the south west last night. A welcome respite from the 50-60 knot front that caused the retirement of Dekadence and Elektra on Thirsday afternoon. It's not been a magic carpet ride for Tristan Gourlay and Pip Girling aboard their Adams 11.9, Force Eleven - their autopilot is out of action and they are struggling to fix it. They have 1,150 miles to go, but are pressing on. Mark Folley's cruiser Solitaire has made good progress since leaving Bass Strait and are the back markers in the fleet, well seaward east of Wollongong, two weeks from Vanuatu at their current pace. Phil Coombs' Dekadence is now heading for Newcastle and is expected there on Saturday afternoon, while Don Fraser and Bruce McKechnie's Elektra should reach Sydney last night. Full sked information at www.melbournevanuatu.com * The Horse Latitudes - A band of latitude around 30 degrees in each hemisphere, where winds are often light. On the trip south from England, about here was where, if there had been a slow crossing of the equatorial doldrums and the winds were light and feed and water was running low, the horses would be forced to walk the plank. The Queensland Government is supporting the South Pacific Boomerang series. Sport and Recreation Queensland is responsible for developing and supporting opportunities for Queenslanders to participate in sport and active recreation. http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/ |
|
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 July 2006 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|