Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race - Fleet through Banks Strait

by Peter Campbell on 28 Dec 2010 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race morning 2 update.

The fleet in the Sargisons Jewellers & Natuzzi Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race has been struggling for wind off the north-east coast of Tasmania this morning with yesterday’s strong westerlies dying away and replaced by light and variable breezes.

However, the wind lasted long enough during the night for the 32 boats still racing to sail through notorious Banks Strait.

At 0700 this morning the leaders appeared to have picked up a light south-westerly breeze as they sailed close inshore past the Bay of Fires towards picturesque Binalong Bay.

There has been one retirement, Easy Street, from the 285 nautical mile race which started from Beauty Point yesterday afaternoon. Granny Apple rejoined the race after completing rigging repairs in the shelter of the Tamar River,

At 0700 this morning Andrew Hunn’s Mr Kite held a lead of less than half a sea mile from Dump Truck, skippered by Justin Wells, as the two Hobart yachts sailed into the beautiful Bay of Fires. At that stage they had just over 175 nautical miles to sail to the finish in Hobart having sailed 110 miles since the start.

Mr Kite and Dump Truck were about 10 nautical miles south-east of Eddystone Point, with a lead of less than 5 miles to Greg Precott’s 2 Unlimited which was just south of Eddystone.

Astern of these three boats was a pack of yachts, including Richard Fisher’s Believe – Sundance Marine, Nick Edmunds’ Haphazard, Andrew Jones’ Advantedge, Jeff Cordell’s Host Plus Executive and David Stephenson’s Matangi which were about five or six miles north of Eddystone.

On corrected times, Host Plus Executive, a Mumm 36 which took line and handicap honours in the inaugural Launceston to Hobart four years ago, is looking well placed.

Based on current boat speeds, the leading yachts in the L2H are not likely to finish in Hobart until late tomorrow morning and even into the afternoon.