Australia holding their own in Wolf Rock Race

by Di Pearson on 20 Jul 2003 Six hours into the long offshore Wolf Rock Race, the final race of the Admiral’s Cup, the Royal Prince Alfred team of Wild Oats and Aftershock, from NSW Australia were holding their own, trying to stay ahead of the competition in a race that will make them or break them.

With a one point deficit to the Spanish Telefonica Movistar team headed by King Juan Carlos, going into this race, the Australian’s will have to sail smart in the tactically challenging waters of England.

At 16.51 BST (1.51am Sunday morning AEST), Bear of Britain reported, ‘we passed the Needles Lighthouse before Wild Oats, but have been run down now though - just behind Chernikeeff and in front of Bribon. Lovely day for a yacht race!’

At 18:45 BST they reported again, ‘passed Anvil Point. Chernikeeff 2 about one mile inshore. Bribon right inshore. Estrella Galicia one mile astern and Wild Oats still in sight!’

Then again at 20:36, ‘at position 50° 26.3N, 002° 27.9W - First boat round Portland, hotly pursued by Wild Oats, Estrella Galicia Uno, Chernikeeff 2. Bribon about one mile back . Wind is 10 knots at 185 degrees.

At 20:41 a report came in that the front end of the fleet had rounded Portland Bill and was sailing close hauled in 10 knots, with Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats marginally ahead of Bear of Britain, Estrella Galicia and Spain’s Bribon Telefonica Movistar.


At 21.10pm BST (6.21am this morning AEST), Colin O’Neil’s Aftershock, sailing in the IMS600 fleet, was south of Portland sailing neck and neck with Chernikeeff 4, while main rival, Telefonica Movistar was a little behind them. They were travelling in 10 knots of breeze at 180 degrees sailing close hauled.

The IRC big boats and IMS 600 class have the same start and finish off the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. The IRC fleet are sailing approximately 360 nautical miles, must round the Wolf Rock Light Vessel to Port, then to North Head and onto the finish, while the IMS 600 class sail approximately 230 miles, their course taking them to Eddystone Light House to port then North Head and onto the finish line

The sailing instructions for the Wolf Rock Race state:

‘3.12 Every yacht shall try to deliver to the Race HQ within half an hour of rounding each mark (and in any case within each 12 hours of the race) a race report.’

The Race Organisers issued an Amendment to 3.12 as follows:

‘3.12(a) Yachts shall also report as described above after passing in either direction a line due South from (i) the Lizard (Longitude 005 12.13'W), (ii) Start Point (Longitude 003 38.54'W), (iii) Portland Bill (Longitude 002 27.38'W) and (iv) Anvil Point (Longitude 001 57.60W).’

Further updates will be available as they come to hand.
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2003 Admirals Cup