The Derwent River in a final joke on the exhausted skipper and crew of eXtasea played havoc with the wind on the final stretch to the finish.  Having come up the river with a storm jib and reefed mainsail the wind dropped and dropped. 

Movement on board was cautious as they changed the headsail and shook out the reefs eventually playing the fickle breezes to cross the line with a cheer and an almost audible sigh of relief.

The finish time of 18:41:45 means that they have been at sea for two days, three hours, 41 minutes and 45 seconds.  Hard graft all the way but the one advantage to finishing at this time of the evening is that the tables are full at The Taste of Tasmania festival and the welcome from the crowd is a special experience.  Cheering, clapping happy crowds who may just have had the odd drink is enough to lift anyone’s spirits.