Good progress for L2H fleet down coast
by Peter Campbell on 29 Dec 2007
Lock On Wood SW
Tasmanians holidaying along the East Coast of the State this afternoon and tomorrow should get a rare close-up view of ocean racing yachts heading for Hobart.
The course for the Clive Peeters Launceston Race and the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Race requires that the fleet must leave Maria Island to port by sailing between the elongated island and the Tasmanian mainland near the popular holiday town of Orford.
The leading boats in the Launceston to Hobart Race, the multihull Deguella and the monohull Host Plus Executive entered Mercury Passage early this afternoon after continuing to make good progress down the coast.
The 21-boat fleet is now spread from Mussellroe Bay on the north-eastern tip of Tasmania to Mercury Passage [Maria Island].
However, the previously well-placed Mumm Oedipus Complex (Steve Harrison) has retired due to gear damage and is being towed by the Tasmanian Police to shelter near Triabunna.
The Sydney 38 Asylum is doing very well for their first time in a challenging ocean race. Dianne Barkas has skippered Asylum into to fourth place on the water, astern of Haphazard, Host Plus Executive (Jeff Cordell) and Deguello (John Brierly).
Based on positions reported at the 1400 hours sked this afternoon, Lock on Wood, skippered by Derwent Sailing Squadron Vice Commodore Peter Geeves is leading the fleet on corrected time. Lock on Wood is a 24-year-old former half tonner designed by Ed Dubois.
A close battle is being fought in the middle of the fleet, currently just off Bicheno, between J-Force, Tehani, Trouble and Sirocco.
Blue Chip is sailing consistently, maintaining its position close to the front of the fleet.
Host Plus Executive reported winds of 20-plus knots from the South East making the afternoon’s sailing 'challenging' for the turn around the bottom of Tasman Island.
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