Ichi Ban leads Brisbane to Gladstone fleet

by Ian Grant on 21 Mar 2008 A light 8 knot sea breeze presented the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race fleet with a slow windward start on a calm Moreton Bay today.

Matt Allen’s modified Volvo 70 Ichi Ban led the fleet on a slow windward beat towards the Garnet Rock Beacon off Suttons Beach.

Not far astern were Peter Harburg’s Sprit of Queensland and the smaller Sydney sloops Wot Yot and Quantum Racing with the balance of the 64 yacht fleet racing in close company and making slow progress in the light headwinds.

Unfortunately the expected forecast of more favourable spinnaker sailing South East winds failed to eventuate leaving the defending line honours champion Ichi Ban running against the clock to set up a challenge against Skandia’s 20 hour 24 minute 50 second record.

The light winds also set the stage for a close duel when Ichi Ban failed to generate enough speed to shake the persistent challenge from the David Biggar skippered Spirit of Queensland.

Both yachts were separated by a little over 20 metres after 30 minutes of sailing while the Ray Roberts skippered Quantum Racing and Graeme Wood’s Wot Yot became involved in an equally interesting close race for third place.