Update Indec Consulting Melbourne to Hobart

by Mike Sabey on 30 Dec 2000 Sinking sloop sloshes home to score a slender Westcoaster line honours win

In one of the most dramatic finishes in the 29 years history of the Indec Consulting Melbourne-Hobart this morning, the waterlogged Sandringham sloop Wild One which was in danger of sinking, came from behind to snatch an amazing line honours win.
For two days and 250 long and exhausting miles, Wild Ones skipper Graeme Smith and 11 dedicated crew took turns around the clock to man the pumps and buckets after the boat started taking water.
Gale force winds and 5-7 metre lumpy seas on the West Coast opened up giant 1 metre crack in the starboard hull beneath where the chain plates, which hold the mast¹s rigging wires are attached.
Minutes after finishing and the crew had enjoyed a victory nip of champagne, it was all hand on deck once again as Wild One needed to be hauled out of the water before it sank.
Skipper Graeme Smith said after inspecting the crack in the hull, 'I¹m shocked at how badly damaged it is. If I¹d known the extent of the structural crack we would never have pushed the boat to 20 knots during the third day of racing!'

The final dramatic 9 hours of the race
At last night¹s 2115 hrs sked, Wild One reported it held a 9 mile lead over Angus Fletcher¹s Hobson Bay based forty footer, Tevake.
However during the next 9 hours with more than 4 tonnes water in the cabin slowing Wild One, Tevake slipped through into the lead.
By the Iron Pot, which is 11 miles from the finish, Wild One was three miles behind Tevake as the two boats entered the Derwent River.
Tevake never looked like being caught until it made the mistake of sailing into a windless hole on the Derwent¹s west side off Wrest Point Casino.
In the final exciting mile of the race, the lead changed four times as fingers of breeze gave first one then the other boat the lead.
But with 200 metres to go Wild One had the last laugh as a 5 knot zephyr enabled it put its bow in front, giving the boat victory by 4 minutes and 44 seconds and its third line honours win in this race (previous wins were in 1990 and 1991).
Its elapsed time for the 480 nautical miles was 2 day 21 hrs 12 min 28 sec
Tevake¹s despondent skipper Angus Fletcher said after tying up at Elizabeth Street Pier,
'We didn¹t know we had over taken Wild One until they radioed in that they were behind us at the Iron Pot.
'I¹m awfully disappointed we didn¹t win, but I¹m over the moon at how well the crew raced the boat to give us the opportunity to pull it off.'

Meanwhile at 1700 hrs the following boats had finished.
1 Wild One finished at 06hrs 57min 28 sec (elapsed time 2 day 21 hrs 12 min 28 sec)
2 Tevake finished at 07 02 12 sec
3) Sea Eagle finished at 11 31 49 sec
4) Anaconda finished at 13 20 05 sec (the boat to beat for PH division handicap)
5) Morning Star finished 14 14 55 sec
6) Ruffian II about to finish

Five boats are still at sea at the 1315 hrs sked today.
7) Colour Solutions has 79 miles to sail
8) Wavelength has 99 miles to sail
9) Under Capricorn has 95 miles to sail
10) Yoko 132 miles to sail
11) Andromeda III has 205 miles to sail

Spirit of the Alice retired with steering damage and returned to Mornington
Copy ends

----------------------
For more info: Visit the ORCV¹s web site which has real time maps of all the competitors and all the latest data can be found at: www.orcv.org.au
The next Indec Consulting Melbourne-Hobart radio position reporting sked from the fleet is scheduled for 2115 hrs today.
The last boat is not expected to finish in Hobart until late Sunday 31/12/00.