Sail-World.com : Whale of a Time at Hamilton Island
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Whale of a Time at Hamilton Island |
Crews contesting today’s 21 nautical mile race around the picturesque islands of the Whitsundays, race five of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, were treated to a spectacle of two mother humpback whales, one already accompanied by its calf and the other giving birth as the yachts passed by.
This whale was giving birth at the time the pic was taken ...which is why it was just sitting there for a few minutes with it's tail in the air
With the sun shining onto sparkling turquoise water, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats X this afternoon added another win to its unbroken string of line honours victories, but this time they were seriously challenged by Steven David’s Wild Joe, just one minute separating the duelling pair in the closest finish of the regatta.
A weapon in light air sailing, Steven David’s Wild Joe, with America’s Cup sailor Adam Beashel on the helm, caught up to the larger Wild Oats X on the first upwind leg, then both were given a sailing lesson.
Geoff Morgan and Andrew Banks’ You’re Hired went close in under Pentecost Island where the Davidson 60 was either going to park or lift.
It was a risk that paid off for You’re Hired, and paid again when Wild Oats X and Wild Joe fell into a windless hole.
Suddenly Wild Oats X found itself not only behind one, but two boats - ironically both of them were formerly owned by Bob Oatley.
Wild Oats X reclaimed the lead on the long downwind run around Pine Island to Dent Island and finished first over the line.
Handicap results will be available shortly.
by Lisa Ratcliff
6:32 AM Wed 22 Aug 2007 GMT
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