Kaz sails outside Barrier Reef on Round Australia Challenge

by Rob Kothe on 30 May 2003 David Pescud and his fellow six sailors with disABILITIES, aboard their 54-foot sloop Kaz, currently attempting to break the Round Australia record are now 139 miles east north east of the Percy Island Group off the North Queensland coast.

Well outside the Great Barrier Reef, which extends 1500 miles along the Queensland coast, Kaz is almost abeam the Whitsunday cruising grounds around Hamilton Island 689 miles from Sydney sailing northwards in southeasterly trade winds in the 20 to 30 knot range.

The current Round Australia record established by Jeremy Pearce and Kanga Birtles aboard the Open 60 Magnadata, better known these days as Grundig, in 1999 is 43 days 19 hours, 29 minute 55 seconds.

The entire circumnavigation is 6500 miles, more than ten Sydney to Hobart’s and having set sail last Sunday afternoon May 25th at 13:40:19 from Sydney Heads, Kaz has an ETA of July 6th, which would see her break the record.

However its very early days yet, the leg from the Torres Strait across the top of Australia past Darwin to Broome and down the West Australian coast will provide a considerable mixture of winter breeze conditions.

The strong following winds on the southern ocean leg from Cape Leeuwin to Tasmania will be a welcome boost before she rounds Maatsuyker Island, then Tasman Island looking for a strong southerly front to bring her home with speed.

The latest update from the Kaz crew reportds

'As Dawn broke over the 29th May, the sun struggled to break through the grey skies. Most of the day has been spent below decks for the off watch crew
members as the rain and seas breaking over the boat made being on deck a very wet affair. However for a few of the KAZ Group crew members the rain
and warm weather meant the chance to have a shower for the first time in 4-5 days.

Below decks it is a bit damp and steamy and once you have your wet weather gear and harness/PFD on, you cannot get on deck quick enough due to the heat.

Dusk (last night) sees KAZ Group sailing up the outside of the reef in a bumpy seaway and making good speed towards her next waypoint.'

You can follow the voyage of the SWD team, via the satellite tracking system at
http://www.sailorswithdisabilities.com/03/challenge.html