sail-world.com -- Pittwater to Coffs Race - Ragamuffin and Wedgetail battle it out
Pittwater to Coffs Race - Ragamuffin and Wedgetail battle it out
Wed, 2 Jan 2013
Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Race - Syd Fischer’s TP52 Ragamuffin leads Bill Wild’s RP55 Wedgetail by a nautical mile having covered 75 of the 226 mile race as at the first sked reported at 1800hrs this evening. Sailing in better pressure than expected, the fleet has now spread over a 35 mile window from Port Stephens to just north of Norah Head.
Steven Proud’s Kernan 44 Swish was 10 miles behind the leaders in third with the host clubs Bruce Hogan’s Perpetual Mocean with a bunch of RPAYC youth development on board was hot on their heels with the Kaiko 52 Merlin skippered by David Forbes . The lead boats were travelling at 14 knots in a 15-20 knot South Easter with the bulk of the fleet was currently off Newcastle sticking close to the rhumb line.
Based on current conditions the race record is still under threat but it depends what happens to the breeze through the night which was forecast to soften in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Tom Spithill, tactician aboard Perpetual Mocean commented, 'We are in 15-20 knots of breeze doing 10 to 12 knots at 140 direction and going along nicely behind Swish and alongside Merlin. The plan is to keep our heads down and sail as fast as we can and try and stay with this pressure.'
The Grant Dawson/Brent Lawson Kerr 11.3m Kerisma was the first retirement just off Newcastle due to a broken bow sprit around 5:30pm, four hours into the race. They are currently on their way into Newcastle Harbour.
The lead for IRC sees Ragamuffin lead from Wedgetail with Merlin in third. Swish, Lake Macquarie yacht clubs Peter Hewson and his Sydney 41 Storage King Wallop and Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons two DK46s from the MHYC were next.
In PHS, it's a similar story with Ragamuffin leading Wedgetail with Storage King Wallop in third with a third of the race now complete for the leaders.
But there’s still a long way to go and as the sun sets on the first night it’s going to be a long, bumpy night for the crews and boats in the 32nd Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs race.
Follow all the action on the tracker on the event website
Burke Marine
Burke Marine, suppliers of international quality marine clothing and equipment, was founded by Martin Burke on the shores of Sydney Harbour in 1971. Visit our website for your nearest stockist. [More info]
http://www.burkemarine.com.au
Ensign Ship Brokers
Ensign Ship Brokers was established in 1980 and has spent the last 28 years expanding our marine knowledge and developing our reputation! We strive to provide the very best service! [More info]
http://www.ensignbrokers.com.au/
GME Standard Communications Pty Ltd
Leaders in communications and navigation. Their goal has always been to make products whose innovation, convenience and peace of mind can help improve the lives of their customers. [More info]
http://www.gme.net.au
Hamilton Island Luxury Accommodation
Full range of private apartments, villas and houses on Hamilton Island. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 bedroom options available. All include buggy and island airport or marina transfers. [More info]
http://www.whitsundayholidays.com.au
Multihull Solutions
Multihull Solutions is Australia and New Zealand’s premier offshore and cruising catamaran and trimaran specialist, offering sales and servicing of the world’s finest multihull brands.
[More info]
http://www.multihullsolutions.com.au
Navionics Australia
Navionics is proud of its superb cartographic database comprising more than 25,000 charts and port plans; the largest privately owned database of its kind, the only one using full seamless technology [More info]
http://www.navionics.com.au
OziOpti
OziOpti is all about 'getting kids in boats' and the Australian company supporting the introduction to of the world’s most popular junior sailing yacht, the 'International Optimist Dinghy' [More info]
http://www.oziopti.com.au
Performance Sailcraft Australia (Asia Pacific)
Laser builder Performance Sailcraft Australia has taken on the successful RS Sailboat range from Britain, and is now licensed to build and distribute all of the RS range in the Asia Pacific region. [More info]
http://www.lasersailing.com.au
Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is Australasia's most significant marine lifestyle event. We look forward to welcoming you to the 25th annual event. [More info]
http://www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au/
Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week
Entries for the fourth annual Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week have opened! 4 days of racing, 5 days of fun – that is what you can look forward to from 3-7 September at Magnetic Island. [More info]
http://www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
Ullman Sails
For over 45 years, Ullman Sails has been devoted to helping our customers reach their sailing goals. [More info]
http://www.ullmansails.com
VicSail Sydney
Vicsail Sydney Pty Ltd, launched into the Australian sailing fraternity in 1983 and has been sailing strong ever since. At Vicsail, “We Sail the Boats We Sell”. [More info]
http://www.vicsailsydney.com.au