Nicorette chasing line and handicap double

• NEWS
• 28 Dec, 2004 06:36:00 PM

Nicorette chasing line and handicap double

Is the supermaxi going to take an illustrious double of line honours and handicap for the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

As the 90-foot Nicorette races down the Tasmanian coast towards a line honours victory, another question is beginning to emerge – is the supermaxi going to take an illustrious double of line honours and handicap for the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

With less than 100 miles to go and averaging 9-10 knots in southerly conditions, things are looking very good for Nicorette’s owner skipper Ludde Ingvall in his first race with the new yacht.

While gale conditions still persist across much of the course, Nicorette is now not expected until after 2.00am tomorrow morning, and possibly as late as 6.00am depending on conditions across Storm Bay and, more critically, in the Derwent River.

George Snow’s Brindabella is also well placed on Overall handicap as is the Victorian entry Dekadence, Sean Langman’s AAPT and Peter Kurts’ classic timber sloop and two-time Overall winner, Love & War.

On PHS handicap, Maserati, skippered by Ian Potter, leads from Leila, the Swan 46 skippered by Pat Quinn, who last sailed into Hobart during an around-the-world race, and the Volvo 60 Seriously Ten.

Fifty-three yachts have now retired.

The Bureau of Meteorology has renewed its gale warning for eastern and southeastern Tasmanian Coastal Waters between Flinders Island and South East Cape.

In the forecast issued at 4.00pm this afternoon, the Bureau is forecasting southwest to southerly winds of 25 to 35 knots, reaching 40 knots offshore, easing 15 to 25 knots tomorrow but 25 to 35 knots offshore at first.

Seas of 6 to 9 metres offshore are expected to abate slowly to 4 to 6 metres tomorrow.