ID :
37548
Fri, 12/26/2008 - 19:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37548
The shortlink copeid
Wild Oats XI and Skandia well in front
Line honours favourite Wild Oats XI was engaged in a dogged tussle with rival maxi
Skandia in a fast-paced first night of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Shortly before 9pm AEDT Wild Oats XI had eked out a hard-earned advantage of around
three nautical miles over the 2003 line honours winner Skandia.
The two fancied maxis each had to overcome minor setbacks in the first few hours of
a race which started on a glorious Sydney summer afternoon under north-easterly
breezes of around 10 to 15 knots.
Skandia suffered a setback around 7pm AEDT when she lost valuable time after having
to gybe back in after she hit rough water and adverse currents.
By nightfall, the two leaders had cleared out to a lead of over 10 nautical miles
over another perennial line honours contender, the 70-foot Ichi Ban.
The fleet was assisted by north-easterly breezes of up to 25 knots as the boats
hurtled out of Sydney and down the NSW south coast.
Although the two leaders were setting a cracking pace which threatened Wild Oats XI
2005 race record of 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes and 10 seconds, conditions overnight
had the potential to slow the fleet down.
"It's going to get a little bit tricky for the boats in front. The winds are going
to lighten," Ichi Ban navigator Conrad Humphreys said.
Wild Oats XI made a sizzling start to her bid for a record fourth straight line
honours win, leading the fleet out through Sydney heads.
The NSW maxi overcame a small tear in her spinnaker and a couple of close shaves
with an over zealous spectator fleet but couldn't shake off Skandia.
Victoria's Skandia forged ahead within the first three hours and the two boats
gradually increased their advantage over their smaller rivals.
Competitors reported "champagne sailing" conditions, with all 100 boats in the fleet
still racing as night fell.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards piloted the Bob Oatley owned boat first through
Sydney Heads.
The well-performed 50-foot Quantum Racing was the early pacesetter in the battle for
IRC honours.
Other boats showing up well in the battle for overall victory were the TP52 boat
Quest, Skandia, the 55-foot Yendys, the brand new 63-foot Loki and the TG52 Wot Now.
Skandia in a fast-paced first night of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Shortly before 9pm AEDT Wild Oats XI had eked out a hard-earned advantage of around
three nautical miles over the 2003 line honours winner Skandia.
The two fancied maxis each had to overcome minor setbacks in the first few hours of
a race which started on a glorious Sydney summer afternoon under north-easterly
breezes of around 10 to 15 knots.
Skandia suffered a setback around 7pm AEDT when she lost valuable time after having
to gybe back in after she hit rough water and adverse currents.
By nightfall, the two leaders had cleared out to a lead of over 10 nautical miles
over another perennial line honours contender, the 70-foot Ichi Ban.
The fleet was assisted by north-easterly breezes of up to 25 knots as the boats
hurtled out of Sydney and down the NSW south coast.
Although the two leaders were setting a cracking pace which threatened Wild Oats XI
2005 race record of 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes and 10 seconds, conditions overnight
had the potential to slow the fleet down.
"It's going to get a little bit tricky for the boats in front. The winds are going
to lighten," Ichi Ban navigator Conrad Humphreys said.
Wild Oats XI made a sizzling start to her bid for a record fourth straight line
honours win, leading the fleet out through Sydney heads.
The NSW maxi overcame a small tear in her spinnaker and a couple of close shaves
with an over zealous spectator fleet but couldn't shake off Skandia.
Victoria's Skandia forged ahead within the first three hours and the two boats
gradually increased their advantage over their smaller rivals.
Competitors reported "champagne sailing" conditions, with all 100 boats in the fleet
still racing as night fell.
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards piloted the Bob Oatley owned boat first through
Sydney Heads.
The well-performed 50-foot Quantum Racing was the early pacesetter in the battle for
IRC honours.
Other boats showing up well in the battle for overall victory were the TP52 boat
Quest, Skandia, the 55-foot Yendys, the brand new 63-foot Loki and the TG52 Wot Now.
