Heaven Can Wait leads Gladstone race

by Ian Grant at Gladstone Race Control on 15 Apr 2006 The 2006 Brisbane to Gladstone ocean race will go on record as one of the more demanding light wind sailing tests in the 58 year history of Queensland’s premier blue water classic.

Race leader the Peter Hollis skippered Heaven Can Wait sailed and drifted through zephyrs and calms overnight to continue with her struggle to reach the half way point of Indian Head on Fraser Island before day break this morning.

Skipper Hollis and sailing master Adrian Finglas will face a similar struggle today while they race on an almost glassy calm sea towards the Breaksea Spit Light and a challenge to lift their race average speed above a slow 7.1 knots.

Their plotted position at 5’oclock this morning left Heaven Can Wait with a little over 160 nautical miles to sail and the prospect of spending another supreme test of light wind sailing as they edge slower towards a career best race result.

Heaven Can Wait had extended her lead over the smaller Brisbane sloop Wedgetail overnight while the former Sydney Hobart winner Quest racing as Quest of Queensland retained third place followed by the Mooloolaba sloop Corum and the Michael Spies skippered Sydney yacht Sirromet Life Style Wines.

Unfortunately a wind speed recording of a five knot south west wind at Sandy Cape and Hervey Bay means the fleet will continue on a slow crawl towards Gladstone today as the race clock ticks in favour of the four time winner Wistari (Ross Patrick) to claim an outright win on corrected handicap.

Wistari was east of the Wide Bay Bar over 50 n/mls astern of race leader Heaven Can Wait however her crew remained confident as they prepared for a fast spinnaker sailing ride to the finish when the promised 25-30 knot south east wind blows over the Fraser Island and Coral Coast later today.