Maria Island Yacht Race - Leaders rounding tip of Maria Island

8:06 PM Fri 20 Nov 2009 GMT

'Valheru (Tony Lyall, RYCT) - Tasports Maria Island Race' Peter Campbell &copy Click Here to view large photo

Last night's strong southerly winds that forced six yachts to retire from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania's Tasports Maria Island Yacht Race have eased away this morning as the leaders sail up the eastern shore of Maria Island, off Tasmania's east coast.

Leading the 24 yachts still competing in the 190 nautical mile ocean race is the Marineline/Focal, skippered by former Olympic yachtsman Gary Smith, which is expected to round the northern tip of Maria Island about 7am this morning, sailing in a light southerly breeze.

At the 0535 'sked' (radio position report) from the fleet, Marineline/Focal, a Bakewell-White 48, was one nautical mile ahead of David Creese's DK46 Dekadence, having its first offshore race in southern Tasmanian waters. Host Plus Executive, Jeff Cordell's Mumm 36, also reported her position the same as Dekadence.

Five miles astern came three yachts sailing close together - David Bean's Beneteau 44.7 Auch, Rod Jackman's veteran Davidson 52 Dr Who and Tony Lyall's Elliott 13, Valheru.

The last boats in the fleet, including Malcolm Cooper's Snook 30, Kaiulani, were sailing off Fortesque Bay at 'sked' time.

The wind is expected to be light this morning, backing to the east and finally to the north-east later today with the leaders expected to finish the race off Hobart's Castray Esplanade this evening.

The Tasports Maria Island Race is a qualifying race for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Sargisons Launceston to Hobart and the Heemskirk Melbourne to Hobart races in late December.

Dekadence, Auch and Valheru are entrants in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, as are other yachts in the Maria Island Race, Archie and She's the Culprit.

by Peter Campbell