Three Peaks - some yachts into Storm Bay

by Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race Media Team on 24 Mar 2008 The Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race’s three front-runners have passed the Dunalley Canal and are expected to arrive in Hobart at about 3pm today.

Shearwater Pure Sprouts, Jailhouse Grill and Westbury-Mersey Pharmacy – three catamarans from north-west Tasmania – are within miles of each other and an inshore sea breeze expected this afternoon could dramatically change the overall sailing positions.

Cruising division entry Aphrodite has tactically used her motoring allowance during the morning’s light air conditions and will pass Dunalley Canal in fourth position within the hour.

Nick Edmunds, the race’s most experienced skipper, has taken the leading monohull Haphazard well out to sea east of Maria Island in a move that seems to be paying dividends.

As a fully-crewed entry, Edmunds must sail the Radford 14 around to the south of Tasman Island.

BWR Multihulls and Team Windsong are sailing inside Maria Island en route to Dunalley, but the bulk of the fleet remains grouped to the south of Schouten Island.

The only father-and-son running team Dane and Lloyd Febey, of PRD Nationwide, are still on the Mt Freycinet running track. They are finding tough going, recording about five hours to the mountain’s summit on what is usually not more than an eight-hour return trip.

The light airs have caused the fleet to bunch up so the final stretch into Hobart will be a closely-fought battle between some competitive teams.

The weather forecast shows that northeast winds should strengthen to 15 to 25 knots later in the afternoon, giving race crews a faster ride into Constitution Dock.

Team MicroHeat Bosch, Bob Tanner’s 40-foot catamaran, this morning became the fourth boat to pull out of the race. Tanner’s New Zealand runners Fanny Lariviere and Karl Strode-Penny have other commitments but the team intends to motor to Hobart and tackle Mt Wellington anyway. Their race results will not be counted.

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