Bluewater belter: maxis in race for the finish
Australian yacht Wild Oats XI is poised to take its eighth line honours as the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race fleet makes its way across Bass Strait.
The veteran supermaxi has extended its lead over US contender Comanche to almost 35 nautical miles.
This morning the leading yachts were making their way down Tasmania’s east coast capitalising on a favourable northerly wind maintaining a speed of around 13 knots.
The remainder of the fleet was still scattered across Bass Strait.
Saturday saw the racers battling with light winds which favoured Wild Oats XI who overtook Comanche mid-morning.
Race officials said “meteorologists offered the view that Wild Oats XI had managed to sail through a ridge in Bass Strait, while Comanche had been stalled by it”.
But the US yacht is expected to benefit from higher winds forecast later today.
The weather bureau said an increase in wind speed of up to 25 knots could reach the boats after midday.
The leaders are expected in Hobart early this afternoon.
The battle for overall lead on corrected time was a tight race with the top five yachts separated by around 30 seconds just after 6:00am.
Tasmanian yacht Martela was leading followed closely by TSA Management, Not A Diamond, Wild Rose and Southern Myth.
It will be a three-boat finish, says Ragamuffin crew
Despite trailing the leaders, the crew of third-placed yacht Ragamuffin 100 said they were still in with a chance of winning the race.
Having slowed down to protect their boat in heavy seas on Friday night, they said they predicted the wind would turn in their favour and deliver them to the mouth of the Derwent at the same time as the leaders.
“We believe the leaders are going to run into a hole and stop,” sailing master David Witt said.
“And our routing is telling us that it’s going to be very exciting and all three boats are going to arrive at Tasman Light [Tasman Island] at the same time.”
Witt’s boat was gaining on Comanche but not Wild Oats.
“We’re three knots quicker already and that’s just going to build over the next 10 to 12 hours,” he said.