Sail-World.com : X favoured over IX in Audi Sydney Southport finish

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Sail-World.com : X favoured over IX in Audi Sydney Southport finish

X favoured over IX in Audi Sydney Southport finish

'Bob Oatley’s Reichel Pugh 66 'Wild Oats X' approaching the heads after the start of the 2007 Audi Sydney to Gold Coast - Mackay Yacht Race.' Peter Andrews

A drag race to the finish for two Reichel Pugh designed canting keel racers, Bob oatley's Wild Oats X and Wild Joe, now owned by Steven David, which was originally Wild Oats IX.

In this 384 nautical mile race its a credit to the Wild Joe team that they have been able to hold on. The two boats are now close together off Byron Bay, with Wild Oats X, six feet longer and a newer design favoured, to win the duel.

Matt Allen’s Volvo 70 Ichi Ban, which headed out to sea looking for more pressure but is now floundering in lighter breezes, is well astern.

Wild Joe has managed to hold on to her larger rival for the last 27 hours by sailing in better pressure overnight and she was able to close on the coast with a better angle. However when the two boats are sailing in the same conditions, its unlikely that Wild Joe will be able to hold the bigger boat.

The latest report is that breeze at the finish line off Southport’s Main Beach is currently 5-10 knots out of the south west.

Steven David’s Reichel Pugh 60 'Wild Joe' and Matt Allen’s Jones 70 'Ichi Ban' and under spinnaker after the start of the 2007 Audi Sydney to Gold Coast - Mackay Yacht Race. - Peter Andrews

ETA for the first boat is gradually pushing back as the wind drops and it would not surprise if the boats finished after midnight, though the current theoretical ETA is now 20:54

Brindabella's 1999 race record of 27 hours 35 minutes 3 seconds is now safe for another year.

Just prior to this afternoon’s position report, Walter Carpenter’s Samarkand retired due to a torn mainsail and advised they were heading to Coffs Harbour. They are the fifth retirement from the fleet of 72 that left Sydney Harbour yesterday afternoon at 1pm.

by Rob Kothe 6:52 AM Sun 29 Jul 2007 GMT

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