Leroy Brown favoured to win Hog's Breath Race on handicap

by Ian Grant on 8 Aug 2000 Warren Wieckmann's speed sailing Farr 40 class ocean racer Leroy Brown is the provisional favourite to win the 520 n/ml Hog's Breath Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach race on corrected handicap.

Over the past 12 months skipper Wieckmann and his Leroy Brown crew have enjoyed a roller coaster ride to the top of the national ranking's with class records in the Sydney-Southport and Telstra Sydney-Hobart races.

They were in the position late yesterday to add another milestone to the impressive list of performances before the larger Farr 50 2GB Titan Ford aided by a larger spinnaker sailed past in the final miles to set a record for Queenslands longest ocean race.

However Leroy Brown despite being outpaced by the narrow margin of 1.08 seconds per mile has saved her lower handicap rating to beat 2GB Titan Ford and last years defending line honours winning skipper David Pescud in the recently launched Aspect Computing.

On win on handicap would be a fitting reward for skipper Wieckmann and the Leroy Brown crew who sailed the sloop on the fine line between distinction and disappointment finally loosing the 'Boss Hog' line honours trophy with virtually the finish line in sight.

Officials will declare the handicap placing's tomorrow