Gripping arm wrestle in Bass Strait

• NEWS
• 27 Dec, 2008 04:25:00 PM

Gripping arm wrestle in Bass Strait

Far from a procession, the two maxis have been locked in a tense match race all day, with the advantage swinging from one to the other.

At 2pm on day two of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2008 the seemingly impossible was happening 90 miles east of Tasman Island. 

Wild Oats XI, the presumed pre-race line honours favourite was trailing Skandia by almost six miles.  Far from a procession, the two maxis have been locked in a tense match race all day, with the advantage swinging from one to the other. 

Following yesterday’s 1pm start from Sydney Harbour, skipper Mark Richards’ race went to plan with the 30m maxi Wild Oats XI maintaining a steady advantage over her rival.  But in the early hours of this morning Skandia began to lay down her own claims and at one stage opened a ten mile lead over the favourite.  In the last hour or so, though, Wild Oats XI has been gradually clawing her way back.

Wild Oats XI reports that the two yachts have been sailing gybe for gybe through Bass Strait in classic match racing fashion, in a strong 28 knot northerly.  They have been using their enormous “super whomper” spinnaker and reaching speeds of 25 knots.

Wild Oats XI navigator Iain Burns says that Skandia is giving them very little opportunity to make a break. 

“This is good racing, great sailing,” he said.

“We hit a calm patch a while back but now with the wind picking up we are just working hard to catch Skandia.

“The crew is in good spirits, the conditions are great and we are hoping to catch a few breaks as we head for the finish.”

While computer predictions have at least five yachts finishing within record time, Burns thinks that the race record is probably beyond either boat now, and says it is anyone’s call who will get to Hobart first.

Unexpectedly good winds today in Bass Strait have been good news for the boats in the 50 to 60 foot range with Alan Whiteley’s TP52 Cougar II, Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest and Geoff Ross’ Reichel/Pugh 55 Yendys shuffling between the top three handicap places all day. 

The pre-race forecast had suggested that light winds in Bass Strait were likely to rob the 50 footers of any real handicap chance this year, favouring the 40 footers, but so far those light winds haven’t eventuated and it has been a great day for what is arguably the most hotly contested division in the race.

Further back up the racetrack the Queensland 40 footer Wedgetail has been forced to bide her time, waiting for the winds to swing to her advantage. 

“We are doing 12 knots in 20 knots of wind,” says Kevin Costin, Wedgetail’s sailing master. 

“The wind just went back to the north. We did have it from the north/north west for an hour, but I don’t know what it’s doing. We have taken a bit of a punt but we are in a good position if it does go west.

“It has been an easy trip so far.”

At this stage, the first boats could feasibly arrive in Hobart in the early hours of Sunday morning, conditions pending.