Records safe in Brisbane to Gladstone Race

by Rob Kothe on 7 Apr 2007 Martin Riley’s Crowther 50 catamaran Raw Nerve was four miles from the Fairway, still 22 nautical miles from the Brisbane to Gladstone finish line abeam of Auckland Creek as the second hand ticked past 05:55:09 in Gladstone this morning.

That was the speed machine’s finishing time when she set the race record for the 308 nautical mile track in 2004, when the building overnight breeze powered her home.

However as helmsman Stuart Bloomfield reported a few minutes ago from Raw Nerve ‘It’s a happy boat, if we get the gun this will be our fourth overall line honours win in a row.’

If the Raw Nerve team manage to keep the mast in the boat for the next hour then that should be the result.

While its blowing 15-18 knots on Gladstone Harbour and down south at Double Island Point there were overnight gusts reaching 38 knots, there was just not enough breeze on the top of the course. At Lady Elliott Island the wind speed has hardly lifted above a steady 16 knots and more was needed for a record result.

The monohull line honours leader Matt Allen’s Jones 70 Ichi Ban is tracking towards Bustard Head. To break Skandia’s race record, which Grant Wharington set in 2004 she’d need to finish before 07.24.50., but she is likely to be at least two hours outside that time.