Back in Bass Strait the race is on

by Peter Campbell on 28 Dec 2005 They may still be between 200 and 300 nautical miles from the finish of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, but back in Bass Strait the bulk of the 82 boats still racing south are enjoying close and competitive racing in IRC Divisions D and E – and enjoyable sailing!

Closest to the Tasmanian coastline at 13:00 hours today is Wot’s Next, Graeme Wood’s Australian designed and built Sydney CR47 sailing in her first Hobart race. She is 44 nautical miles east of Eddystone Point on the north-east tip of Tasmania, making nine knots as she runs under spinnaker before the northerly wind.

Wot’s Next is 12th in Overall IRC standings and has a clear lead over the next boat in IRC Division D, the Victorian yacht Cougar, a Beneteau 44.7 skippered by Alan Whitely, which is 50 miles astern and to the east of Flinders Island. Third in Division D is the Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas’ Farr 40 One Design, AFR Midnight Rambler, while fourth in standings is Fuzzy Logic, Paul Roberts and Bill Lennon’s ILC 40.

The oldest boat in the fleet, Ray White Koomooloo, leads IRC Division E on corrected time. The varnished timber boat, lovingly restored by present owner, Queenslander Mike Freebairn, won the 1968 Sydney Hobart and twice represented Australia at the Admiral’s Cup. Ray White Koomooloo early this afternoon is 75 nautical miles south of Gabo Island and beginning her crossing of Bass Strait.

In second place is the little 31-footer Toecutter from Melbourne, skippered by her designer Robert Hick. She is just over 100 nm south of Gabo Island. In third place is another past Sydney Hobart winner, Roger Hickman’s Farr 43, Wild Rose, enjoying the conditions in mid Bass Strait.

The Sydney 38 fleet is dominating handicap results in Division C, as well as racing boat for boat in their One Design Division. At 13:00 this afternoon, Star Dean – Willcocks, previously known as Yeah Baby and skippered by Ola Anderson, was holding first place in Division C and the Sydney 38 One Design division, with most of these Australian designed and built yachts sailing in a close group to the east and northeast of Flinders Island.

Challenge, skippered by veteran Lou Abrahams on his 43rd Rolex Sydney Hobart, is a close second, followed by fellow Victorian Bruce Taylor at the helm of Chutzpah. This is Taylor’s 25th Hobart race.

On Overall IRC standings the smaller and older boats are well down the board on corrected times, with IRC Division A and B boats dominating the first 14 overall placings, with the exception of Division D leader Wot’s Next which is 12th overall.

The near sisterships, Living Doll (Michael Hiatt) from Victoria and Chieftain (Gerard O’Rouke) from Island are first and second Overall and in IRC Division B. The two boats, Cookson 50s with canting keels, are currently running down the Tasmanian East Coast to sea of Cape Sonnerat and less than 120 nautical miles to the finish. Third Overall is another Division B boat, South Australian Geoff Boettcher’s Reichel/Pugh 46, Hardys Secret Mens Business.

Line honours winner Wild Oats, Bob Oatley’s 30m super maxi, is currently fourth in the Overall IRC standings while Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo, which finished second across the line, is sixth. However, the hold first and second places in IRC Division A with another 30m super maxi, Stewart Thwaites’ Konica Minolta third in Division A on current standings.

The next boats due to finish are Grant Wharington’s Skandia and Konica Minolta which are expected in by mid afternoon, followed by AAPT and Loki.