Darwin Bali Yacht Race Report

by Darwin to Bali website on 9 Aug 2003 Provisional results for this year's race are as follows:

1st Australian Maid with a corrected time of 146 hours 8 minutes

2nd Contessa with a corrected time of 176 hours 53 minutes

3rd Reve with a corrected time of 200 hours 45 minutes

7 August
Australian Maid crossed the finish line at 14:08:54 Australian CST today

At 16:15 this afternoon, Quest reported her position at 08°53' 115° 31' and gave an ETA of 18:30 today.

The majority of the fleet is about 300 miles from Bali, and includes Batida, Damischa Ridda, Duetto, Eupolonia, Free Radical, Pegasus, Reve, Revision II, Star, Ultimate Warrior and Zepherus still have some 480 miles to go.
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Winds are 12 - 15 knots from the southeast and seas are calm

6 August
Australian Maid reported her position at 09° 37' 117° 59' at 1615 hours today, which puts her about 185 miles from the finish.

Rogue Wave has been out of contact, but Australian Customs Coastwatch service radioed a sighting of her at midday today at 12° 38' 125° 13', which puts her some 300 miles out of Darwin.

Contact was also made by Reve today, their position this morning was 10° 53' 123° 01', putting her about 485 miles from Bali.

The fleet has spread out further since yesterday - there are now approximately 390 miles between the lead yacht and the back of the fleet.

5 August
As of 1600 today, Australian Maid was maintaining her lead and was located at 10° 55' 121° 58', approximately 360 miles from the finish, with an average speed today of 7 knots.

The field is spread out over about 300 miles, and the boats in the back of the fleet include Phoenix at 11° 39' 126° 15', Revision II at 11° 34' 125° 37', Swan II at 11° 50' 126° 23', and Zepherus 12° 15' 125° 55'.

Australian Maid's estimated time of arrival in Bali is Thursday lunchtime.
Boats have reported a light easterly breeze of 6 knots.

4 August

At 1600, Australian Maid had covered 62 miles since the morning sched and is located at 10°47' 123°59'.

Other positions included Batida: 11°37' 126°21', 262 miles from Darwin; Contessa: 11°45' 126°22', 260 miles from Darwin; Duetto: 11°43' 126°35', 248 miles from Darwin; Eupolonia: 11°33' 126°02', 281 miles from Darwin

The yachts are spread out over 180 miles with Zepherus at 12°17' 126°57'
Yachts reported ENE breeze of 5 knots.

At 0800 hours, Australian Maid was 346 miles from Darwin, located at 11°14' 125°07'. Since the last sched at 1600 on 3 August, Australian Maid covered 135 miles overnight, averaging 9 knots. She has averaged 7.5 knots since leaving Darwin, and at the current rate of progress, will be in Bali on Friday.

Reve was 227 miles from Darwin, located at 12°05' 126°59', covering 85 miles since the last sched - an average of 6 knots.

Other positions included Eupolonia: 11°46' 127°39', 252 miles from Darwin; Quest: 11°53' 125°32', 314 miles from Darwin; Revision II: 12°04' 127°17', 210 miles from Darwin; Star: 11°52' 127°09', 221 miles from Darwin; Swan II: 11°46' 127°38', 194 miles from Darwin; Ultimate Warrior: 11°42' 126°56, 302 miles from Darwin.

Yachts reported a 10-knot easterly breeze and flat seas.

3 August

At 1600 hours today, Australian Maid was stretching her lead over the fleet, and was located at 11°49' 127°12', some 211 miles out of Darwin.

Other positions included Pegasus: 11°55' 128°17', 175 nautical miles from Darwin, Free Radical: 12°18' 128° 24', 160 nautical miles from Darwin, Damischa Ridda: 12°02' 128°39', 150 miles from Darwin, and Contessa: 12°00' 128° 21', 167 miles from Darwin.

Yachts reported SE winds calming to about 10 knots, with lumpy seas.

At 0800 hours Australian Maid was leading the fleet, located at 11°47' 128°34', 129 miles from Darwin.

Eupolonia was in second position at 12°03' 129°05', 107 miles from Darwin. Back markers in the fleet were Swan II and Rogue Wave, 78 miles from Darwin.

Yachts reported a quiet night, with SE winds picking up to 15-20 knots in the morning.

2 August

At 1600 hours today the Australian Maid was located at 12° 19' 130° 02’, 53 miles from Darwin followed by Pegasus and Reve 11 miles behind with Duetto and Phoenix a further 12 miles behind them.

The Rally was started at 11 am on August 2nd 2003 in perfect conditions from the Darwin based converted pearl lugger Anniki. The yachts quickly left the harbour in a following southeast breeze of 15 - 18 knots. First across the start line was the Darwin yacht Australian Maid skippered Jon Wardill followed by Ultimate Warrior, Contessa and Pegasus.

For full details http://www.darwinbalirace.com/bal2003.htm