Fighting for the lead in Melbourne to Hobart

by Jennifer McGuigan on 30 Dec 2006 Two days and nine hours into the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart race you could expect to see some sea between the leaders, but in this race it is not so.

As the leaders pass Low Rocky Point they continue to play a cat and mouse game for the lead in this most taxing of yacht races.

Matt Hannaford’s No Fearr has worked solidly for the past eight hours to put the yacht back in front as the fleet proceeds past the entrance of Port Davey.

No Fearr is fighting to maintain their narrow lead ahead of David Phillips Hasta La Vista and Jeff Otter’s Icefire. The three leading yachts are not only within sight of each other but are almost on top of each other and can probably smell what is for dinner on the other boats.

To have a match race on the west coast of Tasmania after travelling 300 nautical miles is quite extraordinary. These yachts are trading tacks in south easterly winds of 15 knots and slight seas of 1.5 metres unusual for the West Coast of Tasmania.

The next turning point is the South West Cape, some 38 nm’s from the leaders, then they will find themselves travelling eastwards hoping to ease sheets and accelerate, increasing their speed to the finish line. The stationary high pressure system means generally light and variable winds however they should get helpful afternoon sea breezes.

Sally Rattle’s Archie continues to perform well to stay in fourth position, marginally in front of Don Fraser’s Elektra abeam of Low Rocky Point.

Four miles back finds Richard McGarvie’s Addiction and Phil Bedlington’s Under Capricorn, though Under Capricorn has gone well out to sea.

They are followed by Eddie Ragauskas’s A Crewed Interest and Laurie Ford’s Varta Spirit of Downunder. Graham Ryan’s Tevake, from the Port Fairy Yacht Club, is abeam of Point Hibbs.

Robin Hewitt’s Yoko has lost ground in the lighter breezes and is being challenged by Bill Feore’s Plantronics Voyager hugging the shore, as they search for katabaric offshore breezes.

Allan Schafer’s Pilara from Blairgowrie is some six miles behind, with a twelve mile gap to John Geist’s Ruthless and Julian Robinson’s Apollonius. They are on the rhumbline abeam of Cape Sorell.

The Port Fairy boat Afrayed Knot is following the coast close to the entrance to Macquarie Harbour.

Duncan Hine’s Coogans Stores has past Pieman Head all on board are enjoying the journey as they bring up the rear.

Alex McKinnon’s Joint Venture has retired from the race but is continuing their passage to Hobart and is hugging the coast to maintain VHF radio communications.