Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart update

by Jennifer McGuigan on 30 Dec 2007 As we enter day 4 of the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart race a finish is in sight.

Paul Buchholz has steered his DK46 EXtasea with admirable consistency and currently sits five nautical miles south of Maria Island. He holds a slender four mile lead over Alan Saunders’ Ninety Seven with the second DK46 Dekadence just one mile further back.

Tony Fowler in his Inglis 47 Ocean Skins has Dekadence in his sights and is just two nautical miles ahead of Malcolm Eaton’s Beneteau First 47.7 Savoir Faire who is racing gunwale to gunwale with the Mummery 45 Ice Fire.

Peter Coleman skipper of Just a Minor Hickup is sitting in the next group, just north of Maria Island. He commented this morning, ‘I can’t believe that all these boats are still together. It has been a very bumpy night, smash and bang all night. We have been reefed and it’s just as well Mr Hick has made us such a strong boat.’

The weather has been out of the south all night at 15 to 20 knots making for cold and uncomfortable conditions.

The back of the fleet will appreciate the predicted northerly change this afternoon. The front of the fleet however will not want the northerly as they run up the ever tricky Derwent River.

Extasea was expected to make their compulsory radio call from Tasman Island around 11am this morning, with an ETA of 3pm this afternoon. However the wind has dropped , yet in a race characterised by constant lead changes Buchholz has steered his boat with a relentless precision.

Extasea 12:51

Dekadence 13:10

Ocean Skins 13:43

Alex – Team MacAdie 13:43

Ninety Seven 13:44

Ice Fire 13:47


Little wind at Tasman Island but sea breeze expected to have an effect this afternoon. First boat is expected at 18:30 across the line.

The race across Storm Bay and up the Derwent will determine the winner of Line Honours today. Can Buchholz take this unique double? He has Line Honours in the Centenary Melbourne to Launceston race and would dearly love to enter Elizabeth Street pier first.

The ever important handicap prize is extremely open. The Geelong boat Savoir-Faire looks a good prospect as does David Phillips’ Hasta La Vista. All could be pipped by the Archambault 35 Archie, from the Tasmanian host club the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Skipper Sally Rattle took out the second place last year and with a team of canny locals aboard is well placed to deal with the vagaries of the Derwent River.