Grundig leads Flat Chat then Glass Out

by Rob Kothe on 18 Apr 2003 Three times Brisbane to Gladstone Mono hull winner led the 2003 fleet around Garnet rock, just before noon Good Friday. 11:49:32

In fast fading breezes Grundig managed to hold out last years multihull winner Flat Chat by 200 metres at the buoy. 11:54:59 Untidy spinnaker almost stalled Grundig. Thee two boats managed to stay in reach a pressure line about half a mile east of the mark and hold their kites as the continued to the east.

Second place catamaran was the big Southern Ocean 50 Raw Nerve, who gybed close to the beach before spearing back towards the mark. She rounded at 12:00:01 She is suffering now as the breeze has dropped down to 5 knots

Sister ship to the multihull and out right Brisbane to Gladstone record holder Rogntudijuuu, the Melbourne speeder should power away from the fleet when she has pressure.

The white kite of Matt Allen’s new Farr 52 Ichi Ban (which means Number One in Japanese) took her round the mark at 12:05:35

Now there is a half-mile circle around the mark, which is starting to glass.

Next boat to reach the mark will be the Volvo 60 2UE Magnavox skippered by Peter Sorensen.

Next in the distance will be the Sydney 60 Eureka and the legendary Bob Sled but they have a way to go in a record race. Not!

Down towards the south east there is a faint breeze line which is likely to fill in behind the fleet, however its seems there will be a slow ride out of the bay for most of the fleet.

In the distance Grundig is still holding her big blue kite as she moves down the shipping channel towards Tangalooma, but behind her Flat Chat is now reaching under headsail.

A east south easterly at 3 knots has now come in allowing Valley Tram to lead Rum Jungle, Corum, High Anxiety and Raffles to round ahead of Bob Sleed anmd Eureka.

In the multihulls Kiska was third ahead of Free Spirit, the Cats Whiskers and X-Catriot.