Foreign Affair on final leg

by Terry Travers on 24 Feb 2004 The crew of Foreign Affair, the Chamberlin 47 power catamaran contesting the Eco-Marine Challenge, left Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast at 5.21am this morning for the final 500 nautical miles to Hobart after sheltering from strong winds generated by an intense low pressure system and attendant cold fronts.

At present the crew are punching into a two metre sea with 2.5 metre swells and a 20 knot south westerly wind. Conditions are relatively unpleasant with a sudden motion and they can only manage 11 knots, but the situation is expected to improve significantly as they push further south.

The cold front that generated the weather is moving into the Tasman Sea and a high pressure system is becoming established over Bass Strait, which should create the favourable conditions needed to lift their average speed.

The next waypoint is Tasman Island with an expected arrival in Hobart late Tuesday evening.

For further details see www.icecat.com.au