Race record holder due to cross finish line

by Lisa Ratcliff on 31 Jul 2001 The current Sydney to Gold Coast Race record holder Brindabella, skippered by Sydney businessman George Snow, is about to round Point Danger with an estimated finish time of 5.50pm, exactly four hours after the Open 60 Grundig Xena took out line honours.

While he has missed out the winner's trophy, Snow will take some consolation from the fact that his race record is set to remain for another year. Grundig Xena (Sean Langman) finished this afternoon just 15 minutes outside the best time set two years ago by the 76-footer.

Meanwhile the last yacht in the fleet, Wahoo (Brian Emerson) is some 200 miles back and sailing off Port Macquarie. The tailenders are now likely to be racing in lighter conditions associated with the high-pressure system that was forecast to bring easing winds to those on the NSW mid-coast.

Peter Hansen's Elliott 45 Coyote has remained in third position in the fleet since the 10.00am start yesterday morning and is set to finish at midnight tonight followed by Martin James' Infinity III at 1.45am tomorrow morning.

Given that the big boats have managed to ride the following winds all the way from Sydney Harbour, it is not surprising they are dominating the provisional handicap positions with Xena leading IRC division, Brindabella leading on IMS and Ivan Resnekov's Farr Horizons leading PHS division.

There have been two more retirements since this morning - Matt Allen's Valtair and Phillip Harvey's Lipstick on Your Collar. This afternoon Georgia Express (Peter Hayes) reported a small fire in the galley but assured Race Control that everyone on board was OK and the boat was continuing northwards.

The next position report will be at 0635hours tomorrow morning.

For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Ratcliff on 0418 428 511.