Sail-World.com : Melbourne to Hobart - Pummelled by the Gale force winds

News Home

Cruising

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Sail-World.com : Melbourne to Hobart - Pummelled by the Gale force winds

Melbourne to Hobart - Pummelled by the Gale force winds

'Spirit of Downunder - ORCV Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2013' Teri Dodds ©

After a night of being pummelled by the Gale force winds the West Coast fleet are heading for Hobart fast, maybe too fast. At 10am the Tracker showed that eXtasea had clearly had a very big ‘round up’ they were off the rhumbline and pointing almost due South. They had slowed to just seven knots which contrasts with Tevake II still travelling at 12knots. Angus Fletcher is smoking past the South West Cape.

eXtasea seem to have managed to sort out there problems and are now pointing back towards Storm Bay picking up speed to over 10 knots. With 70 miles to the finish we are expecting an ETA in Hobart of approximately 2pm. So often The Derwent River is a problematic final stretch to the finish line but this year we have plenty of wind volume the direction is swirly but Buchholz should have no problems as he heads in this direction.

The wave Buoy of Cape Sorell near Strahan - Simon Dryden

The report from Laurie Ford on Spirit of Downunder, of the overnight conditions was that it was very very very cold, so much so that they couldn’t keep many people up on deck. They lost all the electrics except for one GPS and spent the night under the storm jib alone. The conditions have moderated now and as they pass Port Davey they are about to hoist the mainsail with three reefs in. Last night was so lumpy that the meal in the oven turned upside down and Laurie is currently on his knees trying to clean the gas jet in six metre seas.

by Simon Dryden

Tweet

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=118025

6:29 PM Mon 30 Dec 2013GMT

Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.

News - USA and the World

C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta ends on a high note by Sam Crichton,

After four days of learning, sharing and competition, the twelfth annual C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta finished on many high notes. This year entries where the highest in the 12 year history of the event and the 51 participating sailors had the highest number of boats in two of the three competing classes, the 2.4mR and SKUD 18 classes.... [more]

Report from Rio: Team Jolly on the South American 470 Nationals by Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie,

Current 470 World Champions, Polly Powrie and Jo Aleh, are currently competing in the South American 470 Championships in Rio, Brazil, ahead of the Olympic Test event starting on Monday.Gonzo (their new boat) seeing some action for the first time in Rio, we are currently taking part in the South American Championships, racing in Rio for the first time...... [more]

Sopot Match Race - Hansen and Gilmour out of the competition by Alpari World Match Racing Tour,

Defying an unpromising forecast of little wind, the organisers of Sopot Match Race, the third event on the 2014 Alpari World Match Racing Tour, were able to stay on schedule, completing the final 12 flights of Qualifying. With the easterly onshore wind on Gdansk Bay, conditions were more stable than yesterday’s offshore westerly.... [more]

USA 4 Windsurfing Campaign - Changing gears by Steve Bodner,

I’m spoiled, I'll be the first to admit it. I live and sail in one of the most consistently windy spots on the west coast. San Francisco is blessed with a sea breeze almost every afternoon from March through October from 15-25 knots funneling though the golden gate.... [more]

Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race: The Flight of Pretty Fly III by Sail-World,

Join Colin Woods and the crew of Pretty Fly III as they have a fast slide north in last weekend's Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The canting keel Cookson 50 recovered from a slow start to ease through some marque competitors, and finish sixth over the line, and placing fifth on IRC in what was generally reckoned to be a big boat race.... [more]

RS Feva World Championships - Snakes and ladders on a tricky day by Golly Tucker,

The fleet was held ashore for an hour and a half whilst the gradient breeze flopped about and the seabreeze settled at the RS Feva Worlds. It was a light eight knots that saw the Gold fleet set off. By the second race the wind had increased to a lovely 12kts but then shifted 20 degrees right towards the end of the second Gold race but during the sequence for the second Silver.... [more]

Laser Radial Youth World Championship Dziwnów, Poland - Day four by Jeff Martin, Dziwnów

For the first of the three races scheduled all fleets were started on time with only three disqualifications for early starts in the girl’s fleet. As the day progressed the winds got progressively lighter, as forecast, with the last races finishing in five to six knots from the same direction.... [more]

The first annual WetaFresh is a big success by Tim Wieringa, Muskegon, MI

The final results are in. WetaFest Was a huge success. We had two sailors from Cleveland, Ohio, one from Detroit, MI, four made the trip from the Chicago area and two locals from Grand Rapids.... [more]

Etchells Invitational Cup – Overall result decided in dramatic race by Rupert Holmes,

The Etchells Invitational Cup’s final day delivered more stunning, high adrenaline and incredibly close racing, with the three leading boats all in contention for the 140-year-old Gertrude Cup at the start of the final race. Jeremy Thorp of Antigua YC led the fleet on 26 points, with Shannon Bush of New York YC on 34, and Jeanne-Claude Strong of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron on 36.... [more]

Youngstown Yacht Club hosts a successful CanAm Challenge! by Amy Reynolds,

Last weekend, the Youngstown Yacht Club hosted the CanAm Challenge, a one-design and pursuit class event that emphasizes a friendly rivalry between the United States and Canada, with each country vying for bragging rights. 92 boats registered for this Inaugural event; split between 12 One Design divisions as well as two Pursuit classes, spinnaker and non-spinnaker.... [more]

Volvo Ocean Race crews to battle in Round Britain test by Volvo Ocean Race,

Iker Martinez’s Spanish team will put to the test potential new crew members as they make their way to the UK for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race this week. The event, which starts on August 9 and is preceded by Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, will see five of the new, one-design Volvo Ocean 65 boats navigate Britain’s 1,800 miles of notoriously tricky coastline.... [more]

Sopot Match Race - Canfield tops leaderboard after day 1 by Alpari World Match Racing Tour,

The Alpari World Match Racing Tour’s newest event, Sopot Match Race, commenced today. Eleven flights of Qualifying were sailed in a light to moderate north-westerly wind. At the close of play Alpari World Match Racing Tour champion Taylor Canfield tops the leaderboard unbeaten on 5-0, ahead of Phil Robertson’s WAKA Racing on 5-1 and local Polish legend Karol Jablonski on 4-1.... [more]

America's Cup - Ben Ainslie Racing strengthens British Challenge by Sarah Alexander,

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) have today revealed six additions to their British America’s Cup Challenge. The new team members will significantly strengthen BAR’s bid to bring the Cup back home to British waters. Britain’s Paul Campbell-James has joined the sailing team and brings a great deal of technical knowledge, combined with a solid record as both a mono and multi-hull racer.... [more]

ISAF Sailing World Cup - Hyeres and Weymouth named 2015 venues + Video by ISAF,

Hyères, France and Weymouth, Great Britain have been named as the European venues for the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup series. Bids to host the two European regattas of the ISAF Sailing World Cup were carefully considered by the International Sailing Federation with key criteria including a compact venue, first class sailing areas and facilities.... [more]

Laser Radial Youth World Championship - Day 2 and 3 by Jeff Martin,

Two more races were completed in nine to 10 knot winds on the second day of the Laser Radial Youth Championship in Dziwnów, Poland. It was long day for everyone after a wait ashore for fog to clear only for it to unexpectedly return during the first race.... [more]

Anna Tunnicliffe: Final two days of the 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games by Anna Tunnicliffe, Carson, CA.

Anna Tunnicliffe: We finished up the 2014 CrossFit Games with the final 3 events. I gave it my all, made the final cut and finally finished 22nd overall. The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Laser Radial class describes the final two days of the competition.... [more]

Techno 293 Worlds - France and Italy claim titles by International Windsurfing Association,

Fifteen year old Carlo Ciabatti from Cagliari, Italy, is the 2014 Techno 293 Youth Boys World Champion. With an unassuming start, 23rd on the leaderboard at the end of the first championship race, Carlo clawed his way up day by day - 13th . . . fifth . . .first! beating European Champion Tom Monnet into second place by four points.... [more]

Allen RS Feva World Championships, Day 4 - Nations Cup and lay day by Golly Tucker,

At the Allen RS Feva Worlds, the fleet racing took a break today while a well deserved break was taken from the very physically demanding conditions in Quiberon Bay. The two boat team racing Nations Cup took place during the afternoon with 11 nations participating.... [more]

29er World Championships 2014 - Finals start tomorrow by 29er World Championships,

After a stormy start to the day, the rain cleared and the breeze filled in from the South-South West with a steady 10-12 knots. All the sailors were excited to get racing today, with both fleets starting the day with general recalls. The black flag was raised on both courses and pushed sailors behind the line allowing both fleets to start qualifying race nine.... [more]

ISAF Youth Worlds Champions lead 29er Worlds by Jerelyn Biehl,

On course 2, the French ISAF Youth Worlds 29er champions Brice Yrieix and Loic Fischer Guillou (FRA) had a steady day of racing.... [more]

Help clean up the sailing water at Rio - Image Gallery by Juerg Kaufmann,

Top international sailing photographer, Juerg Kaufmann (SUI) is in Rio for the first of two Olympic Test events. Like many others in the sailing community he is most unhappy about the quality of the water at the Olympic venue. Sailing has always prided itself on being an environmentally proud sport.... [more]

2014 Etchells Invitational Cup - Day 3 by Rupert Holmes,

After another stunning day with bright sun and a solid south-south westerly afternoon sea breeze, the top of the leaderboard could hardly be closer.... [more]

29er World Championship - Finals start tomorrow by 29er Worlds,

2014 29er World Championship - Another windy day on the Kingston waters to wrap up the third and last day of the qualification series. After a stormy start to the day, the rain cleared and the breeze filled in from the South-South West with a steady 10-12 knots.... [more]

420 World Championship - Singapore and Spain out front by 420 International Class Association,

Racing got underway on day three of the 420 Worlds in a 12-15 knot breeze from the north, perfect conditions to complete the final two races of the race qualification series. With the discard kicking in after race 5, some shuffling on the leaderboard as teams discarded their worst score in the 420 Open and 420 Ladies fleets.... [more]

Lido 14 National Class Championship to take place at Alamitos Bay by Rich Roberts,

The boats have only one modest hull and certainly don't foil, and the crews are mostly friends or family, including only a pro or two sailing for fun, not finances, in the 2014 Lido 14 National Class Championship at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club this weekend. Racing Friday through Sunday will be on the namesake bay fronting the club at the end of Ocean Blvd.... [more]

Glide Free Foils - the dinghy foiling break thru is on the market *Feature by David Schmidt,

In 2006, the sailing world was stunned with the speed and performance of the foiling Moth, and the genie forever escaped the bottle. Flash-forward just a few short years, and the Moth Worlds were being were contested on foils; jump-forward a bit further still, and the 34th America’s Cup was won using foils.... [more]

Ida Lewis Distance Race - Entry deadline fast approaching by Kirsten Ferguson,

Next month, the Ida Lewis Distance Race will celebrate a decade of offshore fun with its 10th edition of the popular overnighter that starts and finishes in Newport, R.I.... [more]

Largest Olympic Class Regatta ever to take place in Rio by ISAF,

Over 320 sailors from 34 nations will compete at the first test event of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games from 2-9 August from the Marina da Gloria. The Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 is set to be the largest Olympic classes sailing competition ever held in Brazil and many of the world's top competitors are ready for the test.... [more]

Lake Ontario 300 Challenge is now complete by Brian Townsend,

The 25th running of the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge is now complete and proved to be a classic race similar to the first race held in 1990. This year just over 110 yachts competed with 87% finishing. Every type of wind was experienced coming from just about every direction with a spell of no winds to make things interesting.... [more]

Guinness World Record criteria finalised for the Largest Sailing Race by Irene Corosu, Weymouth

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation is pleased to announce the finalised Guinness World Record criteria which sailing clubs have to comply with to count towards the world record attempt, and for participants to be ratified as world record holders.... [more]

Allen RS Feva World Championships - Day 3: Final series starts by Bill Tucker,

Allen RS Feva World Championships 2014 - This was where the serious racing really notched up another couple of gears with the talent pools fully concentrated after the qualification series finished. The forecast had a sunny moderate day of 12knots or so lined up. The reality was that the sea breeze kicked up in full with the third race concluding in 20 to 22knots average.... [more]

Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 - Tactics, endurance, achievement by Louay Habib,

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is undoubtedly one of the toughest yacht races in the world. While other ocean races are longer, racing 1,800 miles around a coastline notorious for highly changeable weather and wicked tides and currents, puts the race amongst the most difficult to complete, let alone win.... [more]

Alpari World Match Racing Tour moves on to Poland + Video by Alpari World Match Racing Tour,

One of the most exciting developments in the Alpari World Match Racing Tour for 2014 is the addition of Sopot Match Race into its roster of events. This year will be the 11th edition of Sopot Match Race, taking place on the Baltic in the Polish holiday resort close to Gdansk.... [more]