Here she comes!!

by Rob Kothe on 26 Mar 2005 A re-start in the 2005 Brisbane to Gladstone race, with a strong southly squall line runs up the Fraser Island shoreline.

Overnight the fleet has crawled little more than half way towards Gladstone, but this morning the south easter is sweeping up the sandy shoreline of Fraser Island

At the moment two heavy thunderstorm cells, one over Sandy Cape and another just south of Indian Head are at the front of the change.

Poised ready for a wet and wild ride, are the three 30 footers, the acknowledged down wind fliers in this years race.

The Cone of Silence skipper, James Neill, over a crackly phone ‘We are used to these race re-starts now, we made up 20 miles on the 50 footers during the Mooloolaba race and we are ready to blast north soon. We don’t have our favourite heavy weather reacher, we blew it to pieces last week, but here we go!!’

The Mumm 30’s Anthony Paterson’s Tow Truck and Jeff Paul’s Immigrant are well back but are bringing the breeze with them.

The late arrival of the south easter, just about puts paid to Sean Langman’s hope of another double victory. As all he has to do to claim line honours is to keep the mast in the boat and some rag up, but a handicap win is now clearly out of reach.