Tony Fowler is a very happy man today as he has driven his Rogers 46, Ocean Skins to Line Honours victory in the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster race. Crossing the line at 09.53 this morning on a gorgeous Hobart day just 8.29 minutes in front of Phil Simpfendorfer on Veloce.
Fowler commented, ‘this is something I have dreamed about. Last year or the year before we had our chances so I know what it feels like (not to win). We are a band of brothers and fighters we haven’t slept in 24 hours.’
Fowler has only had this version of Ocean Skins for six months and has worked hard to build the crew and know how to achieve this particular dream. ‘XLR8 kept us honest but I knew if we could stick by them, when we got a chance we would take them.’
In the end it was Simpfendorfer and Veloce that would be keeping them honest as they came round Tasman Island this morning. Simpfendorfer tells that as they came into that south east corner they became mixed up with Sydney Hobart boats.
‘we lost sight of them, we had the torches out looking around. When we heard them call in from Tasman this morning before us we found out they were actually behind us.’ ‘We worked hard across Storm Bay but they just had more waterline length and power in the light conditions.’
The east coast fleet is now enjoying 20 knot northerlies helping them to fly down the coast, handicap placing will favour the smaller boats in these conditions.
Across on the west the wind has dropped to just 7-8 west south westerly at Low Rocky Point where the back markers are. The leaders in that race are coming up into a 6 – 10 knot northerly.
One of Fowler’s first questions was to ask if any westcoasters had arrived. To say he was jubilant when he found out they had not was an understatement.
by Jennifer McGuigan ORCV
12:52 AM Wed 30 Dec 2009 GMT
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