Rolex Sydney Hobart start

2:56 AM Fri 26 Dec 2008 GMT
Excitement plus as the countdown for the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart draws near.

Its a beautiful day, 13 knot nor'easter with helicopters hovering above the big boats and a lrage spectator fleet.

The big boats, Skandia and Wild Oats are favouring the pin end of the line, ASM Shockwave the committe boat end.

Its Wild Oats who have won the start on the pin end from Skandia. Her crew timed the start perfectly and she has clean air, as did ASM Shockwave and Quantum Racing.

Wild Oats X1 stormed down the harbour on port tack and have just tacked in front of the fleet, but its a race to cross the fleet. She has the speed and its a perfect start for Wild Oats, Skandia has had to pull away on starboard. Ichi Ban has had a great start too.

Skandia cannot match the speed of Wild Oats and has had to tack behind Loki, who is gassing her.

Wild Oats X1 is streeting her rivals down the harbour and she is now coming across to the eastern shore. Iain Murray, tactician has favoured the eastern shore.

A clear start on both start lines has just been signalled. 69 yachts started on the second line.

Skandia is just about to tack again, thats four tacks so far.

Black Jack is favouring the western shore but Wild Oats is way ahead of the fleet and is probably doing about 12 knots at present. She is however, having to contend with the large spectator fleet.

She looks like she is trying to lay the mark.

Black Jack and Ichi Ban are having thier own battle.

Wild Oats won't lay the mark and looks like she will have to tack twice. Skandia will however will round the mark, after just one tack. Wild Oats X1 has rounded the mark and is heading to sea mark Zulu, before heading out of the Heads and out to sea.

Once the yachts are out of the heads, the spectator fleet will close in and will create a 'washing machine' effect for the latter yachts in the fleet.

Black Jack has been headed by Loki, and Ichi Ban is now around the mark too. Limit is now around the mark, as is ASM Shockwave.

by Sail-World.com

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