Lead changes in Melbourne Vanuatu
by Rob Kothe on 3 Jul 2006
Sailing with Gusto Melbourne-Vanuatu 2006 Andrea Francolini Photography
http://www.afrancolini.com/
Close racing in the inaugural Queensland Government sponsored South Pacific Boomerang series overnight. The Volvo 60 Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine lead the fleet across the bay and to the heads but a halyard problem allowed the fast running Open 60 Gusto to sweep into the lead.
At the 21:05 radio sked Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine was back in the lead, 34 miles from Wilsons Promontory, just half a mile ahead of Brian Pattinson and Pat Guidice sailing the water ballasted Gusto through some fast angles.
Simon ‘Slim’ Dryden and his crew were pushing the pocket maxi Nautilus Marine Insurance Helsal II hard. She was only six miles further back, sailing strongly in the light conditions. Tactician/ Navigator Neville Rose is expecting to see much faster speeds from the heavyweight 66 footer in beam reaching conditions later in the race.
On IRC handicap Warwick Hutchins Savage Oceanic 46 Moomba was leading from Mark Welsh’s Alien with Don Fraser’s Elektra third.
In the PHS Division Robin Hewitt’s steel hulled Lexcen 51 footer Yoko, sailing with the same group, was leading the division from Icefire and Ocean Skins.
The double handed division, David James and Dr Rosie Colahan’s Ingenue was leading by Order of the Secretary ahead of Gusto.
Only five hours into the race, there was Just a Minor Hickup when Peter Coleman and Iain Gartley reported their Hick 39 of that name had keel damage and they were taking the boat to Western Port.
The full sked data is online now at www.melbournevanuatu.com
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