1:29 AM Wed 17 Mar 2010 GMT
Brisbane to Gladstone ocean race crews will be forced to spend another weekend away from practising as the weather bureau anxiously tracks the unpredictable nature of tropical cyclone Ului.
The associated gales and seas which have continued to lash the Sunshine Coast over the past week with winds spinning the wind recorder at Double Island Point lighthouse to 41 knots on Wednesday morning, suggest that all Gladstone race sailors should be prepared to batten down the hatches.
Pre race practice sessions, particularly night sailing, are important with the on watch helmsman, tactician and crew needing the valuable on water time to sail smart in the dark.
It's a well know fact that this coastal classic raced over a demanding 308 nautical mile course presents a unique challenge of intense tactical racing with the overall result hinging on the crew who has produced the best tactical options and handicap rated boat speed during the first night at sea.
However the challenge to complete the course with the fastest corrected handicap must also be in good shape by the time they clear Moreton Bay via the Caloundra Fairway buoy and this depends on the important sea time the crew has experienced leading into the race.
Previous race experience is important but every Gladstone Race is different and this year's blue water classic promises to again test both the multi race veterans and the first time 'rookie'.
Meanwhile all crews remain focused on their pre-race preparations as gales associated with a high in the Tasman Sea and Cyclone Ului in the Coral Sea continue to bend a savage South East wind flow onto the entire Queensland coastline.
Queensland Cruising Yacht Club race director Herb Prendergast has actively monitored the weather as the countdown to the official start time of 11am on Good Friday continues.
He like all of the 52 yacht owners nominated to race will remain 'on watch' while the tropical storm turns the ocean into a no go zone for important Gladstone Race crew training and sail evaluation trials this weekend.
The wild weather has also forced the Hamilton Island Yacht Club based sloop Nikon Spirit of The Maid and the Capricorn Cruising Yacht Club's Audi Australian IRC champion Acadia to delay their delivery voyages to Brisbane.
Both skippers Bruce Absolon and Tim McCall remain hopeful that a more favourable weather window will prevail over the next 14 days to allow them to join the fleet for the 62nd winner of the historical Courier-Mail Cup.
For Bruce Absolon the opportunity to contest his first Gladstone Race will end a 12 month nightmare after his 2009 race challenger the dual Sydney Hobart race champion Ausmaid was wrecked on the Noosa North Shore ocean beach after being 'barrel rolled' in gale strength wind and mountainous seas off Double Island Point on the final stage of her delivery voyage last year.
by Ian Grant
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