Sydney Newcastle Race - Wild Oats XI leads off Belmont Beach

by Di Pearson on 19 Mar 2010 If you happened to be standing on Belmont Beach north of Sydney at 6.30pm this evening, chances are you would see the famous 100ft Wild Oats XI sailing by as she continues to lead the 213 nautical mile Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race which started at midday on Sydney Harbour.

Travelling at 10.8 knots Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI (CYCA), with Mark Richards at the helm, is just over 5 nautical miles ahead of Peter Millard/John Honan’s super maxi Lahana (Qld), with race record holder, Stephen Ainsworth’s RP 63 Loki (CYCA) having a great race just 4 nautical miles astern of Lahana.

Like Wild Oats XI, Loki was taking in the scenery sailing close to the coast, with Lahana sailing six miles offshore.

'We have 15 knots from the north-east on a 0.5 metre seas. We’re travelling well and looking forward to a pleasant night at sea,' Michael Bellingham reported from Loki at 7.00pm. 'We can see Lahana just ahead out to sea and Yendys of our stern,' he said.

After a slow start, Lahana got into the groove and on IRC corrected time handicap calculations is now leading the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia organised race overall from Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin, which is leading the CYCA’s Blue Water Point Score, this being the final race.

Fischer will have to keep his yacht moving quickly, as only five points separate the top five contenders; Ragamuffin (15 points), Quest (16), AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas) (17), Yendys (18) and Loki (19) – all are representing the host club.

Victoire, the Beneteau First 45 owned and skippered by Darryl Hodgkinson and with Sean Kirkjian in the afterguard, is currently third overall. Mr. Beaks Ribs (David Beak), Loki, Quest (Bob Steel) and Yendys (Geoff Ross) with Chris Nicholson skippering in Ross’ absence, are next.

Just before 6.30pm this evening, Yendys’ navigator Will Oxley reported: 'We’re playing the coast line and enjoying the scenery. We’re happy with our positioning in the fleet and are working out how to best setup for the changing conditions as it gets dark.

'We’re enjoying nice upwind sailing. I’m keeping one eye out for the weather at home in Townsville where they are battening down for the cyclone expected early Sunday morning.'

Commenting on the race start, Oxley said: 'We’re very pleased to exit quickly - it took Loki a long time to get past us!'

Under the new ORCi rating system, Ragamuffin is leading overall from Pretty Fly III (Colin and Gladys Woods’ Cookson 50) and Patrice Six (Tony Kirby’s X-41). All three represent the CYCA.

This evening the lead yachts were sailing in east-nor-easterly variable breezes up to 15 knots, while the bulk of the fleet was experiencing 13-14 knots from the north-north-east.

As reported just after the race start, tomorrow’s conditions are expected to mirror those of today.

The Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race is the final race of the Blue Water Pointscore and the Tasman Series for the PHS trophy.

http://sydneynewcastle.cyca.com.au