Pittwater to Coffs Race - Ragamuffin and Wedgetail still tussling

by Damian Devine on 3 Jan 2013 In the Pittwater to Coffs race, Syd Fischer’s TP52 Ragamuffin continued to battle it out in a neck and neck tussle overnight with Bill Wild’s RP55 Wedgetail. As they near Nambucca heads this morning for the 6am sked, they led by 1.5 nautical miles with only 20 miles of the 226 miles to go.

With the front runners still sailing in 10-15 knots of SSE breeze and travelling at 10 knots, the fleet has now spread over a 113 mile distance from Nambucca Heads to Forster in the south.

Ragamuffin leads on all counts at this stage; line honours and in the three handicap divisions IRC, ORCi and PHS. She is expected in Coffs Harbour at 8:30am this morning, an hour or so outside Bob Oatley’s 10 year race record.

David Forbes Kaiko 52 Merlin was a further 36 miles back behind the front runners with Steven Proud’s Kernan 44 Swish and Bruce Hogan’s Perpetual Mocean in hot pursuit in a battle for third and a place on the podium.

Bruce Hogan, skipper of Perpetual Mocean, the leading boat from the host club The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club said a short while ago, 'we’re sitting pretty and currently just north of Tacking Point. The breeze through the night was stronger than forecast which was great and sitting around 15 knots with some stronger gusts. Not much has changed through the night and we are still battling it out with Swish and Merlin. The youth development kids in their first major ocean race and their leadership team are doing an excellent job. We just ask them to do something and they just do it, they’ve been brilliant. Looking forward to getting to Coffs.'

Besides the Grant Dawson/Brent Lawson Kerr 11.3m Kerisma there were no further retirements over night.

The lead for IRC sees Ragamuffin lead from Wedgetail with the Beneteau First 40 Justadash in third. Swish and Perpetual Mocean were next in line.

In PHS, it's a similar story with Ragamuffin leading Wedgetail with Secret Men’s Business in third with a third of the race now complete for the Pittwater to Coffs website