Long race for Tail-gunners

by Al Constable on 29 Dec 2005 While Wild Oats XI has a new Rolex Sydney to Hobart race record, the boats at the back of the fleet in the 628 mile blue water classic still have some 'quality' time to spend at sea.

Conditions are still relatively begign, with the north westerlies continuing to push the fleet south.

In spite of the favourable wind direction, at the tail of the fleet the Canberra sailors on the 32 footer Gillawa will be at sea in January.

The Cavalier 975 is just poking her bow into Bass Strait, she is now 37 nautical miles south east of Gabo Island with 385 miles still to sail to the Hobart finishing line.

Its looking like another New Year's Day arrival for the Canberra Sailing School boat, who can count on the cheering crowds greeting them when they sail into Constitution Dock.

Gillawa’s crew last year showed great perseverance to continue on across Bass Strait after sheltering from the gales, finally finishing after six days and 19 hours at sea.

A long Hobart experience too for young Kiwi skipper Phil Chisholm and his Nevenka crew, now 57 miles south of Gabo Island.

The 1997 built Townson 36 made her long ocean racing debut in the Gosford Lord Howe Island Race, as a qualifier for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, in which Chisholm sailed with an international crew of three Kiwis, including owner and navigator Pete Mummery, two Americans, two Australians and Brit.

Not a fairy tale Hobart winning ending either for the round the world adventurers' Alex Whitworth Peter Crozier aboard the Brolga 33 Berrimilla, currently 112 miles south of Gabo Island.

After the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart the two old salts left for the UK, via the Falkland Islands, to contest this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race. Berrimilla placed second in the two-handed division and was awarded the RORC’s Seamanship Trophy, for his year spent at sea.

Berrimilla battled the calendar to arrive back in Sydney only a week before the race start of the 2005 Hobart; the boat's 15th and Whitworth's 14th.

Ahead of them is Chris Dawes Cole 43, Polaris of Belmont, 65 miles East of Flinders Island with 273 miles still to sail. John Nolan’s Northshore 380, Isabella, is also east of Flinders Island with 228 miles to go before reaching Hobart.

David and Andrea McKay’s steel Van de Stadt 50 cruiser, Diomedea, is 30 miles closer to Hobart closing on the St Helens region.