Hobart Champion leads Brisbane to Gladstone race

by Rob Kothe on 25 Mar 2005 At this afternoon's QCYC Radio sked, Michael Spies First National Real Estate leads on handicap from Bob Robertson’s Monkey Magic with Corum third in the 2005 Brisbane to Gladstone race.

In the light upwind conditions Michael Spies, the 28 Sydney to Hobart race veteran, race record holder and 2003 overall winner kept his Beneteau 44.7 moving towards, playing every shift.

Spies won the 2003 Hobart in a beneteau40.7, last year he stepped up to the new 44.7 and has been in fine form winning the 2005 Sailing South Regatta and the 2005 Skandia Geelong Week.

After rounding the Garnett Rock, the breeze hardly lifted towards seven knots, First National and her rivals reached across the Bay, before turning north towards the N.W.Fairway, the Moreton Bay exit.

While Sean Langman's AAPT is the line honours leader as she heads towards Double Islands Point, David Curries Swan 60 Lady Godiva, Ed Psaltis Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler and First National are next in the fleet, ahead of Monkey Magic and Team FGI.

Monkey Magic, a Bavaria Match 42 with Tony Kirby as principal helmsman is only 16 minutes behind First National on corrected time. The Match series have been proven IRC winners in Europe and the Bavaria Match 38 Game Set has performed well on the Australian East Coast over the last few years.

Michael Balkin’s Mumm 36 Corum is third on handicap ahead of the J-35 J Walkin.

Last week's Sydney to Mooloolaba race winner on IRC handicap Tow Truck is sixth overall on handicap as she approached the Bay clearing mark. Owner skipper Anthony Paterson is waiting for the south easter to kick in, then his Mumm 30 should move through the fleet.

Ian Wright’s Saltash II is 16th on handicap while the second Mumm 30 in the fleet, Immigrant skippered by Gladstone’s Jeff Paul is buried back in 19th place overall.

On Performance Handicap Monkey magic leads Peter Holm's Esprit de Corp from Ben Stark's Lady Katherine.

This is the official progressive handicap fleet placings at 5pm Queensland time.

Place Boat ETA Minutes Corrected

1 First National Real Estate 27/03/2005 4:44:40 AM 2785

2 Monkey Magic 27/03/2005 5:45:50 AM 2802

3 Corum 27/03/2005 5:45:50 AM 2815

4 J Walkin 27/03/2005 9:36:36 AM 2853

5 Tow Truck 27/03/2005 6:38:39 AM 2854

6 Heaven Can Wait 26/03/2005 11:49:45 PM 2855

7 Pagan 27/03/2005 6:49:49 PM 2861

8 Ticket of Leave 27/03/2005 7:45:40 AM 2884

9 Lady Godiva 27/03/2005 4:44:40 AM 2888

10 Southern Cross Yachting 27/03/2005 5:42:00 AM 2910

11 AFR Midnight Rambler 27/03/2005 4:38:11 AM 2915

12 AAPT 26/03/2005 6:24:52 PM 2925

13 Helter Skelter 27/03/2005 5:42:00 AM 2933

14 Marabunta 27/03/2005 7:45:40 AM 2962

15 Belle 27/03/2005 8:31:55 AM 2991

16 Saltash II 27/03/2005 4:39:10 PM 3016

17 Team FGI 27/03/2005 5:42:00 AM 3033

18 Amity 27/03/2005 9:36:36 AM 3040

19 Immigrant 27/03/2005 9:36:36 AM 3048

20 Scampi 27/03/2005 9:11:32 PM 3087

21 Dream 27/03/2005 7:45:40 AM 3137

22 Wistari 27/03/2005 9:11:32 PM 3139

23 Gecko 27/03/2005 2:08:09 PM 3169

24 Trumpeter 27/03/2005 10:44:16 PM 3229

25 Windward Rum Jungle 27/03/2005 10:39:38 AM 3337

26 Funnel Web 27/03/2005 5:42:00 AM 3379

27 Ashmore 27/03/2005 9:11:32 PM 3478


Progressive Handicap

Place Boat ETA Minutes Corrected

1 Monkey Magic 27/03/2005 5:45:50 AM 2298

2 Esprit de Corps 27/03/2005 5:45:50 AM 2309

3 Lady Katherine 27/03/2005 1:28:46 PM 2327

4 Corum 27/03/2005 5:45:50 AM 2355

5 First National Real Estate 27/03/2005 4:44:40 AM 2358

6 Helter Skelter 27/03/2005 5:42:00 AM 2383