Spinnaker start likely for Audi Sydney - Newcastle Yacht Race

5:06 AM Thu 26 Mar 2009 GMT

'Andrew Short Marine' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

With the start less than 24 hours away for the final event of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's offshore season for 2008-09, the Bureau of Meteorology has released its forecast for the second Audi Sydney- Newcastle Yacht Race.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Acting Manager Weather Services, Deryn Griffiths, is anticipating a strong southerly change for Sydney this evening, which will ease by the noon start time, but may still allow for a spinnaker start in Sydney Harbour on Friday 27 March in a 20-25 knot S/SE breeze.

This will then ease to 15-20 knots later in the afternoon.

'This breeze will again ease offshore into the night to 10-15 knots with the breeze swinging E/SE on Saturday morning before turning E/NE and tending 10-15 knots in the afternoon.

'We're not expecting too much in the way of rainfall, maybe the chance of an isolated shower on Friday and Saturday' Griffiths added.

For the current Blue Water Pointscore leader David Beak's Mr Beaks Ribs too much wind could see his chances of earning the coveted title of Blue Water Champion run away from him.

'We are keeping our fingers crossed at the moment that we don't get too much wind - otherwise we will see the bigger boats planing away from us and perhaps our position on top of the leader board in the Blue Water Pointscore too! We had too much wind in Hobart, so it's our turn for lighter conditions.

'Our tactician Ian Short is very experienced and he is currently looking at the weather models to see what our options are. We are looking forward to the challenge that the race presents us,' added David.

Saturday's weather conditions will be a mixed bag for the fleet. For the larger sized boats in the fleet the wind shift to E/SE on Saturday morning may slow them down a little and provide some interesting tactical decisions. If the wind shift to E/NE comes in early and with some strength it may just push them home that little bit quicker - perhaps in time for an early brunch on Saturday at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club.

For the smaller boats if the breeze is light in the afternoon, it may make their journey a little tougher after rounding the mark off Crowdy Head and heading back south to Newcastle.

Based on the forecast, the first boat, likely to be Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5, is expected to take line honours in the 213 nautical mile race early Saturday afternoon.

by Jennifer Crooks

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