Hamilton Island RW: The wait was worthwhile - Day 2
by Richard Gladwell 20 Aug 2018 16:23 AEST
20 August 2018
Wild Oats XI - Hamilton Island Race Week - Day 2 © Richard Gladwell
The decision by Principal Race Officer Dennis Thompson to postpone the start of racing on Day 2 of Hamilton Island Race Week proved to be an inspired option.
The squalls that arrived early morning, lift spray off the water in willi-waws, gave way to a fresh southerly sailing breeze, which slowly moderated as the day progressed.
Above the skies were clear with bright sunlight, highlighting the aqua blue sea, white beaches and green scrub covered islands, showing Hamilton Island at its best and creating a superb backdrop for the Race Week, which has attracted a fleet of 233 entries.
Starting with a leg to windward, the six entries in the Big Boat fleet made reasonably short work of the 27.4nm course.
Once they had rounded Anne Island in the Whitsunday Group the big Code Zeroes were set for a fast ride downwind, allowing the two supermaxis Wild Oats XI (Mark Richards) and Black Jack (Mark Bradford) to really stretch their legs.
Wild Oats XI had the measure of the former Alfa Romeo, despite the presence of double Olympic Gold medalist, Iain Percy (GBR) aboard with a couple of others from Artemis Racing in support.
Of the TP52's Matt Allen's Ichi Ban with Rob Greenhalgh and Gordon Maguire aboard, led the best of the rest, in Division 1, surfing effortlessly on the gentle southerly swell.
By the time they turned the corner at the bottom of the course the breeze which had been well over 35kts early in the morning eased away to 15kts for the beat back to the finish in Dent Passage off the Hamilton Island Yacht Club.
Racing continues tomorrow.