Melbourne to Hobart West Coaster arrivals - Relief

by John Curnow on 31 Dec 2009
Latest Melbourne to Hobart West Coaster arrivals update:

The breeze brought home a lot of boats in the last few hours. It must have been a huge relief for the crews, who like a bunch of recalcitrant children, must have been asking everyone, 'Are we there yet?'

At 01:54, 'No Fearr' made it in, then 01:56 brought 'Merlion', 'The Secretary' at 01:58, 'Godzilla' at 02:04, 'Under Capricorn' at 02:13, INSX' at 02:42. 'Biddy Hu II' at 03:25, 'Mirrabooka' at 03:35, 'Rogue Trader' at 05:10, 'Ingenue' at 05:21. 'Icefire' from the Westcoaster fleet also made it in during this patch, at 03:08, as too 'Spirit of Downunder' at 05:07. All of which just goes to show that it was the Eastcoaster's year, which we did highlight on these pages a little while ago, but who would have thought it would have been so dramatic or convincing???

As such, it is very much part of the unofficial Hobart rulebook. In that book, there is a whole section dedicated to stopping at the Iron Pot at the mouth of the Derwent River to rack up, yet again, for yet another re-start to the race. Often it can happen at Tasman Island and Cape Raoul, as well.

George Shaw brought his 'The Secretary' in a little while ago and told me, 'We had two reefs and #2 at Tasman to Cape Raoul and then nothing, litterally, to watch 20 boats scream up to them, stop as if they had the free burgers and water going, then they all re-started once more. 'Racing this time', as the late Bill Collins used to say...
We are relieved to be talking about another thing - and it is finally. Like as in finally they start to appear at the radio markers, finally they are making progress, finally they are in the river, finally they will get here. In fact, just the two have done so since our winner, 'Jazz Player', did so at dusk yesterday. 'Icefire' made it in during the busy patch, overnight of 30/31 December, at 03:08, as too 'Spirit of Downunder' at 05:07.
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'Audacious' reached Iron Pot at 05:35 and think they'll make it here by 08:00. Perhaps they're now super conservative with the estimates because of what they've been through, but I reckon it will be more like 07:30. At any rate, there will be smiles as there is already humour creeping back in to their voices after considering far more gruesome options at South Bruny Island.

The fleet will be home for New Year’s eve with the one exception Slinky Malinky who is not expected before tomorrow.
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Provisional Handicap Results

IRC Handicap
Veloce – Phil Simpfendorfer
Under Capricorn – Phil Bedlington
Ocean Skins – Tony Fowler

AMS Handicap
Ingenue – Rosie Colahan, David James
Godzilla – Tom Fowler
Under Capricorn – Phil Bedlington

Performance Handicap
Ingenue – Rosie Colahan, David James
Chikara Outlaw – Joanne Norbury
Veloce – Phil Simpfendorfer

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