Gusty Cabbage Tree Race plays into Black Jack's hands
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 8 Nov 20:15 PST
8-9 November 2019
Gweilo was just over three hours behind line honours winner Black Jack - Audi Centre Sydney Cabbage Tree Island Race © CYCA
Peter Harburg's 100 foot super maxi Black Jack took line honours in the Audi Centre Sydney Cabbage Tree Island race this morning, slipping just outside the race record, in a time of 13 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds.
Black Jack toughed the blustery conditions throughout the evening, as the southerly winds reached the fleet making for an upwind beat back to the finish in Rushcutters Bay. After the retirement of the other two super maxis, Wild Oats XI and InfoTrack, Harburg's newly modified 100 footer was able to sail their own race to line honours victory.
TP52 Gweilo was hot on Black Jack's heels, sailing a consistent race to second over the line. Matt Donald and Chris Townsend's 2018 addition to the CYCA racing fleet are currently sitting in second on the IRC leaderboard, and have finished just over three hours behind the fleet front runner.
Skipper, Wade Morgan, commented on Gweilo's strong race.
"It was a superb race, obviously pretty fresh and it lived up to the forecast. Starting on reefs and fractional sails in the harbour is not something you normally do, and right on twilight!
"We had a great race, it's the first time we had all our Hobart crew together on the one boat, so we're really wrapped with our night. We kept it pretty safe and had no dramas and thought the boat performed really well.
"It was the first time with a bit of new gear with everyone on board. All the Victorians came, which is huge, one Tasmanian and one American.
"We had a great run up and loved it. It wasn't quite as bad as we were expecting on the way back so that was good!"
The variable wind direction expected throughout today will provide intensely tight battles among the fleet for divisional placings among the remaining competitors.
A string of early retirements have occurred this morning with various gear failures including Wings, Helsal 3, Arch Rival, Koa, Dreki Sunan, Imagination and Minerva.
For more information visit bwps.cyca.com.au.