Southerly change hits back half of the fleet

by Lisa Ratcliff on 24 Mar 2007 The forecast southerly change has swept through the back half of the Audi Sydney Southport fleet sailing north of Norah Head south of Newcastle but its bark has proved worse than its bite – so far.

Phillip Rowe from MRZ reported tonight that a 20 knot southerly hit them around 1930hours this evening.

'It hasn’t turned out to be such a violent animal after all,' said a pleased Rowe who was navigating by paper chart having lost their on board instruments, not because of the southerly front.

'We are just contemplating whether to put a spinnaker up,' said Rowe.

'We were actually reaching in a fresh westerly land breeze, then we realised the breeze was shifting behind us so we just gybed to the other side'.

It’s going to be a long night for Rowe, the navigator, who will be plotting their course via hand held GPS at the chart table while the off-watch crew snooze in Turkish bath conditions.

'Because it’s raining everyone has their foul weather gear on, then they come below where the humidity is already really high, to strip off their wet gear and climb into bed….it’s like a Turkish bath down here'.

MRZ is sailing in company with Equinox, Crossing and Bear Necessity 11 nautical miles east of Norah Head. The moon is obscured, creating a blanket of darkness, however there are lights on the horizon in all directions due to the presence of coal freighters parked off Newcastle.

'The freighters are actually giving us something to steer by,' said Rowe.

Wind readings at Norah Head are currently 25-28 knots from the south while in Sydney readings are much higher, at 30-35 knots.

The front of the Audi Sydney Southport fleet is yet to be picked up and hurtled northwards by the southerly change. Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban is holding its lead – just – currently less than half a mile ahead of Grant Wharington’s Skandia as they both sail east of the rhumbline towards Port Stephens.

Eleven miles from the race leaders is a tightly bunched group including IRC Division 1 leader Geoff Ross’ Yendys, Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki, Ray Roberts Quantum Racing, which currently leading IRC Division 0, and Graeme Wood’s Wot Yot.