Icefire suffers mast damage south of Maria Island

by Peter Campbell on 29 Dec 2005 The Victorian yacht Icefire is the third casualty in the 85 boat fleet that started in the 61st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, reporting mast damage off the Tasmanian East Coast late this morning.

Icefire, a much travelled Mummery 45 owned by Jeff Otter and Gary Caufield from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, was about 12 nautical miles south-east of Maria Island when she notified race control whe was retiring.

It is expected the yacht will continue on to Hobart under jury rig or motor, or may shelter at a fishing port on the Tasmanian East Coast.

Strong to galeforce west-northwesterly winds have been blowing along the coast, with Roger Hickman on Wild Rose reporting gusts of 40 knots.

The nearest yacht to Icefire is the Tasmanian boat Quest which was about four miles astern, six miles south of Maria Island,

The other retirements from the 628 nautical mile race have been the German entry Conergy and Michael Spies’ Beneteau 44.7 Sirroment Life Style Wines which pulled out of the race yesterday with rigging problems.

With 23 yachts now docked in Hobart and three retired, there are still 59 boats racing. The latest finishers are Wot’s Next (NSW) and Prowler (SA), while Shogun (VIC) and the NSW yacht Kaz whose crew includes sailors with disabilities, were due to finish before 2pm.

The Overall Winner on handicap is still to be officially decided. Queensland yacht Ray White Koomooloo, which is the oldest yacht in the race, is still in contention for the handicap win although she needs to gain some eight hours to take the treble away from Wild Oats XI.