New overnight leader in Auckland to Noumea race

by Lesley Grant on 28 May 2002 Starlight Express (Stewart Thwaites) has traded on her easterly position to make a large gain by heading to the west as she gets closer to Noumea.

She is expected to be almost match racing with Systems Thunder, who is 3 miles to the east.

The leading four boats are extremely close after a slow night in light variable southerly winds. Hydroflow and Maverick II are neck and neck on 418 nautical miles from the finish but still widely separated, with Hydoflow sticking to her more easterly course.

Multihull Rogntudjuuu is expected to reach Noumea around 0800 NZST on Wednesday.

To the south the fleet has concertinerd around 28° latitude with those further behind in the fresher winds having the better distance run overnight.

The legendary, Bernard Hamon, from Cercle Nautique Caledonien, who has been involved with the Auckland to Noumea Race for the past 25 years, says that this is the first time that he has seen a fleet so closely bunched at this point, a little over halfway to Noumea.

Following the leaders, the order on the water this morning is the 70 foot Mertsi Louise, the largest boat in the fleet and arguably the most comfortably appointed, Lightspeed, Jive Talking and Anticipation. Mustang Sally and Bodacious are having a private battle of their own.

The New Caledonien yacht Mizar, in the Short-handed division has retired. She is reported to have turned back towards New Zealand yesterday morning.

More information on www.rayc.org and www.sail-world.com/aucklandtonoumea