Sydney Hobart - Alfa Romeo just hours away from Line Honours win

by Sail-World.com on 28 Dec 2009 Neville Crichton and his supermaxi crew are sailing to a convincing line honours win in the 2009 Rolex Sydney Hobart race this evening.

Already around Tasman Light and approaching the organ pipes of Cape Raoul, in the next 15 minutes the majestic Reichel Pugh 100 will free up her sails and begin reaching across Storm Bay towards the Iron Pot, at the mouth of the Derwent River, just 11 miles from the finishing line in Hobart.

Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI is still beating south towards Tasman Island, sixteen miles back, by the time she reaches the Tasman Lighthouse, 42 miles from the finish, the Alfa will be gunning across Storm Bay probably only two hours from the finish line, she should arrive around 10pm local time.

So realistically all Neville has to do to take line honours in this years race is keep the mast in the boat.

Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard is now 15 miles south east of Maria Island, 67 miles from Hobart with an ETA of 2am.

More soon.