Perfect morning – Musto Etchells Australian Winter Championships Day 3

by Rob Kothe on 7 Jun 2009 Overnight rain has been followed by clear skies and a perfect morning at the 13th annual Musto Etchells Australian Winter Championships.

This is the final day and with an early 10am start, race officials and the crews are keen to see two races sailed.

Certainly after yesterday afternoon’s race in which 13 boats were black flagged, there are 13 skippers and crews very keen to see the series reach five races, which will allow their BFD’s to be discarded.

All weather indications suggest that there will be five races and if New Zealander Alistair Gair, who started his campaign with a second and a win before his BFD 55 point result of yesterday, has a good Race four then the pressure will really mount for the current series leader Mark Johnson, second placed Dave Clarke and Damien King and Vaughan Prentice (who are sharing the third place points). An interesting day indeed.

The Race Presentation will be at 6pm at the Wharf Tavern.

Here is the latest forecast.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Queensland. Coastal Waters Forecast for Southern Queensland Issued at 4:36 am EST on Sunday 7 June 2009

Synoptic Situation

A trough is expected to move over these waters during the day and will be followed by a ridge of high pressure from southwest Australia.

Southeast Coast Waters, Double Island Point to Point Danger:

Sunday until midnight: NW/SW winds 15/20 knots, reaching 20/25 knots at times offshore this morning. Lighter winds close inshore early and during the afternoon. Seas to 1.7 metres, reaching 2.2 metres offshore. Patchy rain and isolated thunderstorms clearing during the day.