A glorious afternoon at the southern end of the bay greeted the fleet with a 10 – 15 knot south south westerly for the start of the Melbourne to Hobart and Melbourne to Launceston races.
A good crowd had turned out on Portsea pier which forms one end of the start line to watch the 27 strong fleet across the line. The start was orderly with Robin Hewitt’s, Yoko the first to cross only to be quickly overtaken by Phil Coombs in his new H&H42, Simply fun.
Simply fun popped out their code zero sail and looked like they meant business right from the start. About half the fleet managed to get their spinnakers up, though they were having some trouble holding them in the slightly flucky breezes. As they reached the turning mark below Queenscliff Simply Fun was the first to round followed by Shamrock and Spirit of Downunder neck a neck with Gusto. The Tasmanian boat, Whistler despite its mere 36 foot size was already mixing it with the larger boats in the fleet and rounded the mark in 9th position. They told us that they meant business when they came across and must be considered a strong chance for handicap honours.
The exit of the heads was calm and Bass Strait at the moment looks benign. The fleet will now be splitting as they try to hold the best line for the routes to Hobart and Launceston. They are expected to have light weather overnight tonight which will suit the lighter boats. Tomorrow this will change with a Gale Warning in place affecting the fleet from around the middle of the day tomorrow.
The West Coast fleet will be particularly affected and they are prepared to batten down for the 30 – 40 knot winds and the large swells that will be generated. Two boats made the decision after today’s weather briefing to change races with Shamrock leaving the West Coast fleet and Hush the East Coast fleet both now going to Launceston. These decisions are based on the crew experience and time on the boat and demonstrate strong seamanship decisions.
A finish in the Launceston race can be expected around 11am tomorrow will it now be Simply Fun, Shamrock or Gusto.
Jennifer McGuigan
