Flinders Islet Race fleet commences in light air conditions
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 22 Sep 2023 19:36 PDT
2023 Flinders Islet Race © Crosbie Lorimer
A fleet of 30 boats assembled for Flinders Islet Race, the second in the 2023/2024 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.
As predicted, the weather conditions on Sydney Harbour, just off Point Piper, were partly cloudy, reading 5-6 knots on the start line.
Maxi Andoo Comanche was the first out of the heads, with URM Group second and Highly Sprung third. They were followed by Smuggler, Koa and Sticky, with Antipodes, Tempo and Pretty Woman close behind.
Mistral was the first two-handed boat out of the heads, from a group of five two-handed entries that included; Blue Planet, Imalizard, Jupiter and Rum Rebellion.
The start being slow, crews were hoping that the breeze would build throughout the day.
There was one early retirement. with Calibre 12 returning to the Club, with all crew on board okay.
In this 88nm race the remaining 29 boats in the fleet will proceed out of Sydney Heads, track south down the coast to round Flinders Islet, approximately 1nm east off Port Kembla Harbour, near Wollongong and then make their return to finish in at the CYCA.
The Club will be open for returning competitors throughout the night, to make welcome the first finishers, right through to the last.