Sports boat TMC leading Tasports Maria Island Race
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11:00 PM Fri 21 Nov 2008 GMT
 | | 'Sked 2 (0545/22) map from RYCT web site. Leading boat Tasmanian Marina Constructions (TMC) did not report in but a visual placed her still in the lead about 5 nm northwest of Shed’s the Culprit and approaching the southern end of Maria Island, heading north - Maria Island Race'
RYCT © |
Hobart yachtsman Rob Gourlay and his crew of seven aboard the sports boat Tasmanian Marina Constructions (TMC) this morning are still leading the fleet in the Tasports Maria Island Yacht Race, although not making the distance predicted overnight.
The Thompson 780 failed to report in by radio at the 0545 hours position report 'sked' but the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania's TasCoast Radio received a visual report, placing her approaching the southern tip of Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania.
TMC took the lead in Storm Bay late last night as she sailed 'with cracked sheets' towards Tasman Island and has maintained and lengthened her lead this morning, although not making skipper Gourlay's prediction that they would be off Maria Island by dawn.
Second placed boat She's the Culprit, Todd Leary's Jones 36, reported that TMC was about 5 nautical miles to the north-west of her as the fleet continued to run north under spinnakers.
Positions reported placed the leading boats off Marion Bay, with She's the Culprit about two miles north of the Sydney 38, Asylum, skippered by Dianne Barkas, followed by Host Plus Executive (Geoff Cordell), Valheru (Tony Lyall) and Pisces (David Taylor & Graham McKibben).
Valheru, which is making a comeback to ocean racing in the Maria Island Race followed by the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, reported that she was sailing in a 20 knot south-westerly breeze on a one metre swell.
Heading the next group of yachts, just south-east of Cape Forrestier, was last year's IRC handicap winner Archie, skippered by Sally Rattle, the first woman skipper ever to win this 190 nautical mile race, followed by a large group of boats to the east of Eaglehawk Neck.
At the tailend of the fleet, abeam of Fortesque Bay, were the two 30-footers Nest Property (Murray Wilkes) and Kaiulani (Malcolm Cooper).
The Beneteau 47.7 Liberte Express, skippered by Peter Williams, retired early this morning and at 0700 hours was closing Tasman Island on her way back to Hobart. She gave no reason for her retirement.
There is an ongoing strong wind warning for Tasmania's lower east coast south of Wineglass Bay, with south-west to south-easterly winds forecast to freshen to 35 knots this afternoon, giving the fleet a hard beat to windward back to Tasman Island.
by Peter Campbell
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