Gosford to Lord Howe Island – Close duel for IRC handicap honours
by Peter Campbell on 3 Nov 2010
Balance - Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race Andrea Francolini Photography
http://www.afrancolini.com/
Gosford to Lord Howe Island may have a surprising ending. Sailing conditions in the Tasman Sea tonight will decide the IRC handicap winner of the Hempel Paints 37th Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race.
Balance, Paul Clitheroe’s Beneteau 45 finished the 414 nautical mile race across the Tasman Sea at 10.04am today, but computer predictions indicate the yet-to-finish King Billy, skippered by Phil Barnett, still has a chance of beating Balance for the top position.
At this evening 6.05pm ‘sked’ with the fleet, King Billy was 17 nautical miles from the finish and could still displace Balance from number one spot. The tailenders are still battling strong northerly headwinds to reach the island.
Today, four yachts, Ocean Affinity, Balance, e11eleven and Copernicis, finished the race and two more boats, Charlie’s Dream and Ray White Spirit of Koomooloo retired, the latter when less than 75 miles from Lord Howe Island.
Currently, Gosford Sailing Club’s computer places Balance in first place in the IRC division, marginally ahead of King Billy and Ocean Affinity, with the finish time of King Billy tonight to decide the result.
Apart from King Billy, the yachts to finish the rugged race are Amante, Quetzalcoatl, Polaris of Belmont and Frantic.
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