Sydney Hobart race leaders bunch up as Nicorette closes the gap

by Peter Campbell on 28 Dec 2001 Ludde Ingvall’s 80-foot maxi Nicorette is closing the gap on race leaders in this year’s Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

At this afternoon’s race reporting between yachts and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Rcae Control, Nicorette was just eight nautical miles astern of the race leader, illbruck.

The race lead changed through the morning with Team News Corp at one stage out in front of a tight group of Volvo Ocean Race entries.

Less than three miles separated illbruck (John Kostecki) from Team Tyco (Kevin Shoebridge), with Team News Corp (Jes Fanstone) a further two miles astern.

The leaders were just north of Freycinet Peninsula, with 125 miles to sail to the finish off Hobart’s Castray Esplanade, but heading into lighter conditions with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting five to 15 knots overnight and easing before tending northerly and then freshening. In those conditions, a finish is unlikely before daybreak tomorrow, Saturday, 29 December.

Another strong performance has come from world champion skiff and big boat sailor Iain Murray is opening up a good lead in his quest for handicap honours with Bumblebee 5.

After a disappointing 2000 Race when the Bumblebee 5 sustained keel damage and was forced out, Murray, the yacht’s designer, is the enjoying contrasting conditions as he steers her across Bass Strait.

It has been a tremendous performance by Murray and his crew aboard the 62-footer, which leads IMS Overall handicap from the new Bruce Farr-designed Ragamuffin, skippered by Syd Fischer making his thirty third race campaign, with the New Zealand yacht Starlight Express in third place.

Bumblebee 5, which showed her potential leading the fleet out of Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, was placed ninth in the race to the line, just over 40 miles behind the race leader, illbruck.

Fifteen yachts have now retired, with the Volovo 60 SEB the latest. She is heading for Eden after sustaining damage as a result of a broken rudder, and effecting temporary repairs.

At this afternoon’s 1 pm race positioning report sked Murray had Bumblebee 5 10 miles south of Eddystone Point, 167 miles from the finish.

Further information: Peter Campbell 03-62349183, 03-62349238



Website: s2h.tas.gov.au