Well the wind has been everywhere today and if you aren’t where it is then the sailing is miserable. 

The West Coast fleet however have been flying, hard reaching for most of the day in some uncomfortable sea states.  Paul Buccholz skipper of eXtasea said ‘it’s been wet and wild and uncomfortable coming through the gap but we are flying.’  He continues to lead the fleet as they come down the coast but it is fair to say that all the fleet have had exciting fast sailing today.  Laurie Ford’s Spirit of Downunder and Angus Fletcher’s Tevake II are extremely close to each other.  Ford was hoping for this weather, he knew that it would suit his downwind flyer and he will want to make as much ground now before the change.  This evening when the front hits he will be hoping that some significant westerly stays in the southerly as his boat doesn’t perform well when the wind is on the nose. Fletcher is no stranger to Handicap honours in this race and is a fierce competitor with a real hunger for honours this year.

The story on the East Coast is not so rosy.  Three yachts broke away this morning from the overnight parking lot at Wilsons Promontory, XLR8, Samskara and Merlion have been moving all day albeit slower than the West Coasters making steady progress towards Flinders Island.  The rest of the East Coast fleet had been left to wallow with no breeze at The Prom.  This has caused a split in the fleet which is unlikely to be closed during the rest of the race.

The Gale Warning is expected to last about 4 – 5 hours tonight and how the boats preserve themselves at this time is crucial.  It is important that when the wind drops back to a Strong Wind warning tomorrow the crews and equipment are ready to spring back into action.  It will be an uncomfortable wet and cold night tonight for all crews and the West Coasters will be battened down preserving energy.

Jennifer McGuigan