4:21 AM Mon 28 Dec 2009 GMT
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'The happy team of 'Godzilla'. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart'
John Curnow
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Overnight it had certainly been a testing time in the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Everything. 'The Secretary' had reported that they were doing 1.5knots - all of which was generated by the tide. Thankfully, this was in the right direction.
By the chance the sun had had some time to cook things up a bit, the picture began to change. From 'Caledonia' we learned that they were in 8 knots from the Southwest, with cracked sheets and getting 6knots out of their boat. They had seen a few boats in their own fleet and someone from the Eastcoaster fleet went past with a kite up. They were South of Wilsons Promontory, with all the crew rested and in shorts and Ts. Sounds delightful.
The leaders of all three races have managed a somewhat meagre four-knot average over the last 20 hours or so. The lighter breezes have bunched the fleets up, as the big boats cannot stretch their legs out and you would think it would now be hard for them to do as well on Handicap.
The Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston has the leaders having covered some 63% of the 198nm course. 'Extasea' still leads, with 'Akatea', 'Schuss' and then 'Belle', who was the first boat out of Port Phillip Heads yesterday. They are all in Sou'westerly breezes of around 8knots or so. If the breeze is building out there, as it is here on land, then they can make up a lot of the ground lost whilst it was quiet. Obviously not enough to catch the record, as that mark was 1100hrs this morning, but enough to salvage the pride.
Over on the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, the leaders are 19% through their 440nm course. 'Jazz Player' has regained the lead and then there is 'Icefire', 'Audacious', Tevake II' and 'Spirit of Downunder'. The reason they are all mentioned is that there is but a scant 12nm between them and seabreezes arriving at different times to different boats could make huge leaps and gains possible. Conversely, it could also be snakes and ladders, so keep the eyes focussed on the weather, I think!
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'Jazz Player' puts a reef in during racing on port Phillip. Not much of needing to do that presently. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow
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'Yoko' reported in that they had West to Sou'westers of a healthy 10-13knots and this had certainly helped them come up the placings a bit. That and a whole heap of experience gained form doing 28 Westcoasters means you always want to know what is going on aboard Robin Hewitt's boat. They were happy to report that the thermals were out and shorts were the new 'must-have' item.
Greg Clinnick on 'Audacious' tells me they had a 'six-hour period where we covered a delightful and super huge two miles!' the dolphins joined them in the morning as the breeze kicked in and the bow wave trickled once more. 'Our plan to stay left of the fleet paid off, as everyone started thinking about getting back across to the east side of King Island. Eventually the wind backed to the west and we had a fantastic shy kite run to catch the lead boats, as the breeze ahead died, yet again. For a few brief moments we had line honours, but then came our turn to tear our hair out and watch both 'Ice Fire' and 'Jazz Player' skip away. So it was kite down and blast reacher up, then blast reacher down and medium headsail up. We are now back in front of 'Ice Fire' and chasing down 'Jazz Player'. On handicap we are coming second overall, but this race is only about 20% done and we look to be in for more light weather tomorrow. I'm off watch and off to sleep.'
Glad all the crews are rested or resting, as it will be big night for all of them helming and trimming the kites, maximising everything that may be on offer.
'The Secretary' reports in that it is Sou'westers of 13knots for the Eastcoaster fleet. The leaders have accounted for 30% of their 460nm course. Tony Fowler will be delighted that his 'Ocean Skins' has claimed the lead. 'XLR8' is next, then 'Veloce', 'Dream', 'Chikara Outlaw' and the mighty little 'Godzilla'. The latter has IRC, AMS and PHS Handicaps all sewn up presently. Nice! Actually, that's way cool. Well done team!!!
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Empty pens waiting for boats at the Tamar Yacht Club - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow
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'Ice Fire' in 40knots in Corio Bay. Wonder if they can remember that? - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow
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The Tamar Yacht Club's relatively new clubhouse will see the first boats as the sun makes a departure for the day. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow
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www.orcv.org.au
by John Curnow
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Manly, QLD
