FreeFire takes Line Honours in San Fernando Race 2011
by RHKYC Event Media on 23 Apr 2011
FreeFire - San Fernando Race 2011 - Line Honours RHKYC/Koko Mueller
In the early hours of this morning, after nearly 62 hours of racing, Sam Chan’s TP52, FreeFire crossed the finish line in San Fernando to take Line Honours in the 2011 San Fernando Race, organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht club and run under the auspices of RORC.
Having faced the full range of South China Sea racing conditions, skipper Ian Walker of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing was happy with the team’s performance. 'It was a race of two halves, upwind and very lumpy to start with, which was tough on the crew as I had them on the rail all the time. The second half was sailed in much easier conditions and overall the race was a very productive and useful experience for ADOR.'
FreeFire was under constant pressure, giving time to Geoff Hill’s TP52 Strewth, which was never more than 10nm behind. Strewth finished 75 minutes after FreeFire, and 50 minutes adrift on corrected time, with Hill enthusing that 'it was classic ‘San Fernando Race’, ideal for the TP52’s apart from parking up for six hours. The first night was very bumpy with confused seas and blowing 20-25 knots, but last night was great offshore sailing, spinnaker reaching under a red moon. The boat performed really well, we’re using this as a qualifier for the ‘Hobart.'
As the TP52 crews unwind in San Fernando, the rest of the fleet is making good progress, however only Anthony Root’s Archambault 35, Red Kite II, looks to have a realistic shot of taking IRC Overall from FreeFire’s grasp. With a current ETA of 2018hrs, if she finishes before 2156hrs tonight, she will repeat her 2009 achievement of first IRC Overall.
All the competitors are fitted with a Yellowbrick tracking device, and race fans can watch the action unfold live online at http://live.adventuretracking.com/hksf2011
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