Sail-World.com : Sydney Hobart: Alfa Romeo’s Race to The Corner
Sydney Hobart: Alfa Romeo’s Race to The Corner
'Alfa Romeo leads Wild Oats XI around the harbour mark - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009'
Crosbie Lorimer
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Sydney Hobart. The next few hours will be critical and nervous ones for race leader Alfa Romeo. While Neville Crichton’s yacht is holding a handy 12 mile lead over the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats XI there’s another race to gain as much mileage south towards Tasman Light before they are greeted by new breeze from a southerly quarter, a breeze that Neville Crichton said this afternoon 'we expect to knock us about a bit’.
http:/PredictWind forecasts show a strong southwester south of Tasman Light but interestingly a southeaster to the north of Tasman Light even transitioning slightly east nearer Maria Island.
Every mile gained southward now will be money in the bank, because anything from the south quarter means dropping the spinnakers they now have flying and leaving the rhumbline to head seaward before tacking to round Tasman Light and head into Storm Bay.
Southerly change north of Tasman Light. Winds from all directions will make for an interesting rounding. - PredictWind.com
From there across Storm Bay in a sou’wester will be at best be a close fetch (heavily heeled with the sails slightly eased) and if the breeze holds in then a spinnaker can only be hoisted at the Iron Pot as they enter the Derwent River (where the breeze tends a little more southerly in these conditions) and head for the finish.
If the wind holds in across Storm Bay and up the Derwent and Alfa Romeo can keep a cover on Wild Oats XI it’s entirely possible that she may finish late this evening, if she can hold her lead.
But in these critical phases that remains an ‘if’. One mistake in the next couple of hours and it could be game over for either boat.
Just on 1500 this afternoon Neville Crichton reported he was 30 nautical miles north north east of Tasman Light and said he expected to be sail up the Derwent River before midhight.
'There is still a lot of racing to do before this finish,' Crichton commented ,' And anything could happen.'
'We are waiting for a solid southerly change to hit and ahead of it we are running under spinnaker.
'If they get close, we will cover Wild Oats XI where possible to ensure that she does not get past us.'
Exciting times for the race watchers, nervous times for the leaders.
by Crosbie Lorimer
4:55 AM Mon 28 Dec 2009 GMT
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