Blistering start for the 30th Pittwater to Coffs race

by Damian Devine on 2 Jan 2011

Damian Devine

30th Pittwater to Coffs race, Sunday 2 January start news.

At the first sked reported at 6:05pm this evening, the fleet has compressed with 'Wild Oats X' and the other front runners 'Quest', 'Future Shock' and 'Shortwave' slowing as the Southerly softened to five knots just South of Port Stephens, allowing the tail end of the fleet to make up some ground. The race begins again!

At the sked 'Wild Oats X' was still leading after the breeze dropped late this afternoon slowing them down to a crawl as compared to earlier when they were sailing along at 20knots boat speed. All their hard work earlier on was undone, thanks to Huey. They led by only two miles from Bob Steel's TP52 'Quest' but the bulk of the fleet are only 15 miles behind. 'Santana 3 ' took a zig zag course into the beach looking for breeze and also to escape the currents, another aspect of the race that competitors have in the back of their mind. They are currently traveling 8.5knots.

Earlier today, the fleet were graced with a 15-18 knot South Easter to get them off the line for a blistering start of the 30th Pittwater to Coffs race, quickly disappearing beyond Cape Three Points in next to no time.

The best of the start was to be seen at the pin end with 'Santana 3' the first to jump, closely followed by 'Quest', 'Pretty Woman' and 'Wild Oats X' also getting a good start with plenty of room around them and were able to put the hammer down and have held the lead since.

The boat end was heavily populated with 'Mr. Beaks Ribs' just squeezing out the boat end with 'Menace' and Julian Farren Price's 'About Time' enjoying a nice start at the windward end of the line and the left hand turn out of the Broken Bay along with 'Occasional Coarse Language' and 'Kioni'.

'About Time' once he rounded Cape Three Points cracked out the largest spinnaker and enjoyed a great run in breeze of 25 knots until it dropped to around 13 knots.

'We are currently trying to hold onto 'Minerva', Tim Cox's DK 43 with the Farr 40's all doing well in front. It has been a lovelysail,' Farren- Price commented earlier.

The bulk of the fleet boats are currently nearing Port Stephens with a lot of place changes happening. It's obviously a tricky part of the race right now, and am sure the other yachts will be glued to the yacht tracker to find out how they're comparing.

Now the front runners are moving at a steady pace of 10 knots they will be pushing hard to make up on lost time as the re-start has favoured the back markers who are currently bringing with them the breeze that the front runners out run, as they battle for handicap honours.

The lead for IRC is currently changing with 'Quest', 'King Billy', 'Lisdillon', 'Bombolo' and 'Elleven', all doing well up front.

In PHS, it's 'First Light', 'Freya' and 'Stressfree' leading the Division.