Eureka leads Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach yacht race

by Ian Grant on 3 Aug 2002 Veteran Sunshine Coast skipper Bob Robertson and his Eureka crew revelled in the moderate unseasonal headwinds to hold a comfortable 2-mile lead in the Mt Gay Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach race this afternoon.

Eureka noted for her strong performances in long distance races including a recent line and handicap victory in the Brisbane to Noumea race was off Noosa Head at 3pm logging speeds to 8.5knots as she tacked along the North Shore beach to lead Queenslands longest ocean race.

'We're slogging into an 18knot sea breeze however I expect an early change as the clouds on the South West horizon appear to be loaded with 'bag's of wind'.

'Hopefully we can hold on to the front when the wind swings to the South because there appears to be a chance to steal a break on the fleet'. Robertson said.

Eureka the line honours favourite in the fleet of ten yachts representing Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland led the Sydney yachts The Dream Time (John Woodruff) and Aspect Computing (David Pescud).

The smaller Mooloolaba Yacht Club sloop Sunshine Roofing High Anxiety jointly skippered by the recently married Jeremy and Roslyn Leitch had also logged consistent speed over the first three hours of the race to be well positioned on handicap.

But a lot hinged on the expected wind direction change to night as the race leaders Eureka, The Dreamtime and Aspect Computing set their course bearing to pass Double Island Point for the long sail up the ocean beach of Fraser Island.

'I'm expecting the compression of wind between the 1024 hectopascal high pressure system and the lows in the Tasman Sea to give us some changes to the race strategy tonight'.

'In fact it looks as though we will be in for a busy night of sail changing'. Robertson said.

After 19:30 tonight, the full radio sked and graphical position report will be available from www.sail-world.com/qldcoaster