Split fleet in Melbourne Vanuatu race
by Rob Kothe on 4 Jul 2006
Melbourne-Vanuatu 2006, Nautilis Marine Insurance Helsal II
Andrea Francolini Photography
http://www.afrancolini.com/
In the inaugural Queensland Government sponsored South Pacific Boomerang series Melbourne to Vanuatu race, the fleet has split early in the 1850 mile race, billed by some as the Great Escape (that being from a freezing Melbourne winter)
The race leader, the Volvo 60 Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine is sailing out into the Tasman Sea on the rhumbline, (the most direct course.) She has powered clear of the fleet gaining more than a hundred miles since the Tuesday morning sked.
Behind her, David Currie’s Lady Godiva, the Swan 57 has also found stronger offshore pressure and she is now second boat on line honours. Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Commodore Angus Fletcher is third with his Radford 45 Tevake II four miles behind.
Sacrificing their position, anticipating gains later in the race, the pocket maxi Slim Dryden has taken Nautilus Marine Insurance Helsal II directly north.
Helsal II and the Open 60 Gusto being sailed double handed by Pat Guidice and Brian Pattinson are tucked on the New South Wales coast, looking for land breezes in the light conditions and relief from the south flowing current.
On IRC handicap Mike Welsh’s Alien leads from Lady Godiva with Tevake II in third place.
Robin Hewitt’s Yoko is also taking the scenic route up the coast, leading the Performance handicap fleet from the Jeff Otter’s Ice Fire is on fire, she took has struck east and is now sixth on the water, and second on handicap in this division, ahead of Helsal II
In the double handed division Ray Semmens Sayer 44 Outlaw now 44 miles north north east of Green Cape is the handicap leader from Gusto and George Shaw’s Boots still 14 miles south south east of Mallacoota.
The tail gunner in the fleet Solitaire is still 66 miles west south west of Mallacoota.
The next radio sked is at 0535 and should be online by 0600
More news at www.melbournevanuatu.com Image stories display on www.sail-world.com
The second leg, or perhaps arm of the South Pacific Boomerang, the 1150 mil race from Port Vila to Mackay on the Queensland coast, starts on August 1st and is a feeder race into Airlie Beach Race Week and Hahn Premium Race Week at Hamilton Island.
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