Sydney Hobart: Alfa Romeo Heads Across Storm Bay

8:56 AM Mon 28 Dec 2009 GMT

'The brand new podium awaits the winner. Will Neville Crichton be walking up these steps in the next few hours? - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Sydney Hobart. Neville Crichton looks set to wipe from his memory the 2005 defeat in this race as his yacht Alfa Romeo has passed Cape Raoul, has eased sheets and is heading across Storm Bay towards the Derwent River at a healthy 12 knots.

Meanwhile Wild Oats XI is about to round Tasman Light and is sailing at 10.3 knots, some seventeen miles behind Alfa Romeo, whose last predicted ETA was for 10pm this evening.

While forecasts suggest that the wind will disappear in the river by late tonight there seems a strong chance that Alfa Romeo will beat the predicted glass out.

All that the Wild Oats XI crew can hope for at this juncture is either a major problem aboard Alfa Romeo or that the wind drops out before Alfa Romeo reaches the top of the river, leaving her as a 'sitting duck' as Ian Murray aboard Wild Oats XI wistfully hoped this afternoon.

If Alfa Romeo arrives in the river during daylight hours we will bring you pictures, if she arrives in the dark we'll bring you silhouettes or artistic impressions shot at long shutter speeds!

Either way we will bring the news and images as it happens.

by Crosbie Lorimer

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Sydney Hobart: Alfa Romeo Heads Across Storm Bay

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