Melbourne to Launceston and Hobarts - Goldfinger on record pace
by John Curnow on 29 Dec 2010
M2H Eastcoaster - Goldfinger storms out of the Heads. 2010 Tassie Trio John Curnow
Spirit of Freya finished the Melbourne to Launceston race at 01:55:54, leaving Deliverance as the last boat out. They are expected at 10:10am.
The rest have their second inshore race since Christmas today and that will round out the Rudder Cup Series for yet another year.
Andrew Steenhuis' Seven, in their first foray into ocean racing, will take out both the International Rule - Club and Australian Measurement System handicap results. No doubt, the crew of the Beneteau First 45 will be delighted with that.Strong wind warnings dominate the forecast for most of Tasmania, which are for winds from 22 to 33 knots from the Nor'west to North on 2 to 2.5m seas.
On Wednesday morning, Tasman Island has about 6 knots and this is exactly where Goldfinger is and this is inside record pace. She is due in just a few minutes after 11am, whereas Gusto, over on the West coast, is approaching South West Cape and thenceforth on to Maatsuyker Island. Winds there are presently 24 to 31 knots from the Nor'nor'west and it's just 10 degrees Celsius there, but with windchill, it is just two. Gusto is expected at about 11pm, this evening.
Further up the West coast and abeam Strahan, which is roughly half way down the coast, Spirit of Downunder reports that they have 25 knots from the Nor'west. Conversely, The Secretary, who are about one third of the way down at Granville Harbour, are reporting 20 knots from the Nor'east.
George Shaw and Robyn Brooke are competing two-handed and have had some spinnaker halyard issues. Halyards hoist and lower sails from the top of the mast, so this has affected their sail selections and ultimately pace.Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Commodore, Don Fraser, said this morning, 'It is great to see Goldfinger about to win the Red Wine Cup for first in to Hobart and set a new record for the Eastcoaster event. With Veloce overtaking XLR8 during the night, both of them are just minutes apart and only about an hour behind Peter Blake, Kate Mitchell and the crew on their Farr 52 One Design.'
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/78545
