Brisbane to Gladstone sailors monitoring the weather

10:42 AM Thu 2 Apr 2009 GMT

Gloomy weather engulfed the start to the important eight day countdown as the 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone Race crews continued with their preparations earlier today.

Rain continued to fall in bucket-loads while the wind recorders at the Gold Coast Seaway Tower, Point Lookout and Cape Moreton were threatened with bearing failure by gusts exceeding 40knots.

This is in complete contrast to the previous 24 hours when a relatively lazy sea breeze recorded yesterday at Double Island Point and Lady Elliott Island hardly hard the puff to ruffle the feathers of the roosting sea birds.

But that all changed overnight and early this morning when Cape Moreton was buffeted by big seas, torrential rain and wind which twisted the recorder into overdrive signalled a motion to batten down the hatches.

No skipper, including Peter Holm who will contest his 40th race this year, is prepared to make any prediction on what to expect from nature when Queensland Cruising Yacht Club Life Member Clarrie Noble fires the start signal for the 61st Blue Water Classic at 11am on Good Friday.

However there is no question that the 49 crews representing Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland would have some reservations and fear about racing in the boisterous conditions which have continued to torment the South Queensland and Fraser Island coast today.

Sure there is still eight days to go however a precedent was set in 1964 when Queensland Cruising Yacht Club officials delayed the start for 24 hours to allow a coastal gale to be downgraded to a strong wind warning.

The ocean remained tormented by a 'brute breeze' and forced the retirement of Safari and the Clarrie Noble skippered Dorone while the Rupert Murdock skippered ketch Ilina sail surfed to a 33hr 23min 54 sec record with her 4 minute 46 second line honours victory over the John Cockle skippered ketch Enid.

Grant Wharington's super maxi Skandia Wild Thing set the present race record at 20 hours 24 minutes 50 seconds with an exciting average speed of 15.09 knots in 2004 and this is expected to remain unchallenged by this year's leading line honours challengers Black Jack (Mark Bradford), Wot Now
(Graeme Wood) and the consistent Ray Roberts skippered Quantum Racing.

Depending on the weather forecast Wot Now which finished third overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart race behind her TP52 class rivals Quest (Bob Steel) and Cougar 11 (Alan Whiteley) is expected to make a strong challenge to win the 61 year old Courier Mail Cup.

by Ian Grant

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