Old Master leads Sydney 38’s

by Rob Kothe on 29 Dec 2005 Dual Hobart race winner, racing south for the 43rd time, Lou Abrahams, 78, is this afternoon leading the Sydney 38 One Design fleet towards Hobart.

He has won twice in 1983 and 1989. A dual Sydney 38 National Champion in 2001 and 2002, Abraham’s has come close to overall victory in the Hobart race in recent years. In 2001 his Another Challenge led the fleet into Bass Strait, falling to fourth in IRC B, after an unlucky gamble. In 2002 he was third on both IMS and IRC, leading into the River, but becoming becalmed.

This new boat, named after his 1983 winner Challenge was launched in 2004. Lou and his crew between them have sailed in 128 Sydney Hobart races with Colin Anderson rejoining the boat for his 29th race.

There is only five miles between the top three boats, with Challenge having overtaken Star Dean-Willcocks on the heavy run. Fellow Victorian Bruce Taylor racing in his 25th Hobart is less than 500 metres further back.

Breaking News:Star Dean-Willcocks has become the fourth boat to retire from the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The Sydney 38 OD has rigging problems and is heading to Hobart.


EST. ELAPSED EST. CORR.
YACHT NAME LAT LONG DTG SOG COG TIME & SPEED H'CAP TIME & SPEED


SYDNEY 38 Overall

1 Challenge Lou Abrahams (42), 28.4 miles to finish, 3nm W of Cape Raoul

2 Star Dean - Willcocks, Ola Strand Andersen 33.5 miles to finish, 6nm S of Cape Raoul (since retired)

3 Chutzpah (24)Bruce Taylor 33.8 miles to finish, 3nm SE of Cape Raoul

4 Swish Steven Proud, 60.0 miles to finish, 19nm S of Maria Island


5 Horwath BRI Tony Levett, 60.9 miles to finish, 20nm S of Maria Island

6 Savcor Peter Westerlund Sweden, 65.2 miles to finish, 13nm S of Maria Island

7 Zen Gordon Ketelbey (5), 74.9 miles to finish, 10nm SE of Maria Island

8 Hidden Agenda Ross Trembath (10) 87.1 miles to finish, 10nm S of Cape Sonnerat

9 Team Lexus Frank Sticovich, 97 miles to finish, 5nm W of Cape Sonnerat