Close finishing Melbourne to Hobart

by Event media/Sail-World on 29 Dec 2005 Gusto and Bill Rawson’s Helsal II are match-racing to the finish, inside the Iron Pot. Both have reported damages overnight with Helsal II breaking their mainsheet system, losing their headsail and spinnakers sheets, has a torn spinnaker, a bent boom, and two rips in the main. Gusto appears to have a broken leech line with their main flapping severely. The boats are within 100 meters of each other with nine miles to go.

Tevake and Quetzalcoatl are still within shouting distance of each other.

Earlier this afternoon, the 66 footer Helsal II and the Pattinson /Guidice owned Open 60 Gusto both reported in at one of the scheduled checkpoints, Cape Queen Elizabeth 20 miles from Hobart within two seconds of each other.

One hour later almost to the minute, the ORCV Commodore, Angus Fletcher’s Tevake II and the Hobart boat, Joshua Ey’s Quetzalcoatl checked in within one minute of each other. This combination is a recipe for the closest finish in the race which either the Sydney to Hobart or the Melbourne to Hobart has seen for many a year.

With the wind hard on the nose the race to the he finish will see a tacking dual between first and second and between third and fourth. The early part of the race has now been forgotten and the new race has begun.

The America’s Cup style tacking dual will have all crews working at their peak. One mistake could see all the hard work for the past two days thrown out of the window. Crews are tired and exhausted but they will be feeling no pain for the next few hours. There’s plenty of time for that after the line has been crossed

This race has provided an exhilarating ride for all competitors and the race to the finish will be a hard fought amongst these yachts as it is between the leaders.

Tony Warren’s Beyond Outrageous is off South East Cape. Robin Hewitt’s Yoko is about 3 miles astern. George Shaw’s By Order of the Secretary (BOOTS) is off South Cape about 8 nm behind, Mark Buckley’s New Morning II is abeam of De Witt island

Rough Red, Runaway and Avenger are all near Port Davey in close company; Zest is near Low Rocky Point.