Classic Sydney to Hobart winner leads Solomon Airlines Brisbane to Gizo race

by Rob Kothe on 3 Jun 2001 The ridge along the east Queensland coast from a eastward moving
High over New South Wales is producing a general SE trade flow over the area, however conditions along the Fraser Island coast overnight were very light.

This morning the breeze is gradually strengthening. In the racing division the 1959 Sydney to Hobart winner, the classic Alan Payne yawl Cherana has averaged 6.3 knots over the last hour as she swings north east towards the Solomons on a heading of 07.

The 1998 and 2000 winner Mike Thurston's Drina is next, surprisingly 4 miles behind Cherana, with Take Time a little way back but five miles more seawards.

Bill Rawson's Sorbent Helsal II, had a slow night, she is now north east of Breaksea spit, 166 miles from the start line and is picking up in speed.

Sorbent Helsal II is third on handicap, as her waterline was of little assistance in yesterday afternoons light airs however today should see moving up the fleet.

The pocket maxi is now moving out from land into the warm Coral Sea and stronger trade winds. in the last two hours she averaged almost 9 knots

(GPS tracking updates on the official web site www.sail-world.com ever hour report distance to go, average speed and average heading)

In this very long race, the cruising boats are allowed to motor, being penalised 90 minutes for every motoring hour. Their handicap positions require updated motoring hours to allow calculation. By mid-afternoon today when Race Control is established at the Gizo Explorer hotel, updated motoring hours will allow us to provide cruising division progressives.