Tassie Trio update - Sunday midday 28/12/14 The Eastcoaster race fleet have struggled with a complete lack of wind overnight, at the moment the measure at Hogan Island has them in 10 – 12 knots East South Easterlies. In a tactical difference XLR8 has stayed on the rhumbline and gone to the outside of Curtis Island inside Devils Tower whilst CARTOUCHE have taken a route inside Curtis Island pushing them off the rhumbline but presumably giving them better wind speed. XLR8 still lead on Line Honours but the handicap prizes are split across the fleet. Once they round Flinders Island they can expect to catch a building north easterly which will push them south at 20 – 25 knots. The spinnakers will be packed ready to be cracked out as soon as they get around. Flinders Island is a mark of the course and they must stay north of that mark and not attempt to cut the corner and travel to the East Coast through Banks Strait. This is a safety and fairness feature of the course as the tide conditions in Banks Strait vary greatly depending on when you transit the gap. The fleet to Devonport has at last got some breeze with 10 – 15 knots from the east but dying down to 5 knots. Gusto is currently 60 nms out ahead of Wicked by 7 nms meaning they are still not going to finish until 5pm or 6pm this evening, if this wind holds in for them. If you had Champagne on board you might be enjoying the ride but in a race you may well be tempted to sacrifice the Champagne to Huey in the hope of some breeze. On the Westcoast the fleet are faring a little better, at King Island they have 10 – 15 knots from the North East and the fleet are abeam of King Island now. They are heading into building breeze with Cape Grim reporting 15 – 20 knots also north easterly. Not only do they have the benefit of the building breeze but it is also directionally suitable. Laurie Ford’s SPIRIT OF DOWNUNDER is leading and loves this style of breeze it is a downwind flyer. Addiction although smaller is not letting them get away, this beautifully sailed vessel is maximising their speed they will be flying their kites and all boats will be revelling in the conditions and thankful they took the Westcoast route to Hobart. The west coast is showing solid building breezes down through Cape Sorrell from the North East swinging North during the day and increasing 20-25 knots, with a sea state building slightly they will be keeping off shore tonight to maximise the available wind. Whilst the ETA is still showing as the 31st we can expect this to reduce as they fly down the coast in the stronger winds.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 02:13:34 +0000
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