Spinnaker start likely for Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

• NEWS
• 26 Dec, 2002 07:53:00 AM

Spinnaker start likely for Rolex Sydney Hobart Race

Forecasts of 15 knot south to south-easterly winds on the Harbour point towards a spectacular spinnaker start to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at 1pm today as the 57 boat fleet dashes towards the Heads and the Tasman Sea.

Forecasts of 15 knot south to south-easterly winds on the Harbour point towards a spectacular spinnaker start to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at 1pm today as the 57 boat fleet dashes towards the Heads and the Tasman Sea.

For the sailors there is even the prospect of the wind backing to the east and north—east during the afternoon,  and freshening to 15 to 20 knots,  giving them further prospects of a fast spinnaker reach down the coast.

Early morning showers appear to be clearing and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is confident that the race will attract large crowds on the water and on headlands around the Harbour.

With the new rudder for the Farr 52, Ichi Ban,  arriving by air from Malaysia last evening,  the yacht is back in the water and will join the other 56 boats on the line when the famous adventurer Sir Edmund Hillary fires the starting cannon at 1pm.

The official web site for the race is – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com