Alfa Romeo maintains lead in slow Sydney-Hobart race
12/27/2009 | 04:58 PM
SYDNEY — Alfa Romeo held the lead over two other maxis as the first group of yachts in the Sydney to Hobart race entered Bass Strait on Sunday, encountering light winds and the prospect of a slow sail to the finish on the island of Tasmania.
Alfa Romeo, skippered by Sydney-based New Zealander Neville Crichton, held a 16 nautical-mile (18 miles) lead over British entry ICAP Leopard about 27 hours into the race.
Wild Oats XI, which is trying to win for the fifth consecutive time, was third, 18 nautical miles (21 miles) behind the leader.
The leading yachts were several hours away from the reaching the halfway point of the race, 628 nautical miles (723 miles).
The prospect of little wind on the field's approach to Flinders Island and the Tasmanian coast meant the winner could finish as late as Tuesday.
"Oh dear, this race may prove one of the lightest and longest ever," ICAP Leopard owner and skipper Mike Slade said.
"(The) forecast is proving completely wrong and being corrected by the minute. I can only hope ... that the current prognosis for the next two days of light winds will equally prove false."
With light winds, tactics also were becoming increasingly important.
"Bass Strait looks like it's going to be very tricky later today and there won't be many passing lanes," Wild Oats XI navigator Adrienne Cahalan said.
"That means it's extremely important for us to stay in touch with the two other yachts," she added. "Now is not the time for anyone to take a flyer because there's still a long way to go."
The race record was set in 2005 when Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, finished in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, after crossing the line at Constitution Dock in Hobart. It was the first of four wins in a row for the Australian maxi.
Current projections have Alfa Romeo finishing about 6 a.m. Tuesday — two days and 17 hours after leaving Sydney, nearly 24 hours slower than the record.
One yacht which experienced overnight problems was Investec Loyal, carrying Olympic swimming 1,500-meter gold medalist Grant Hackett, world boxing champion Danny Green and former Australian rugby players Phil Waugh and Phil Kearns.
"(We) had a lot of damage last night and yesterday." Investec Loyal navigator David Dickson said.
"However we're back in the game and pushing to catch where we can," added Dickson, whose yacht had dropped 40 nautical miles (46 miles, 74 kilometers) behind the leaders. - AP
Alfa Romeo, skippered by Sydney-based New Zealander Neville Crichton, held a 16 nautical-mile (18 miles) lead over British entry ICAP Leopard about 27 hours into the race.
Wild Oats XI, which is trying to win for the fifth consecutive time, was third, 18 nautical miles (21 miles) behind the leader.
The leading yachts were several hours away from the reaching the halfway point of the race, 628 nautical miles (723 miles).
The prospect of little wind on the field's approach to Flinders Island and the Tasmanian coast meant the winner could finish as late as Tuesday.
"Oh dear, this race may prove one of the lightest and longest ever," ICAP Leopard owner and skipper Mike Slade said.
"(The) forecast is proving completely wrong and being corrected by the minute. I can only hope ... that the current prognosis for the next two days of light winds will equally prove false."
With light winds, tactics also were becoming increasingly important.
"Bass Strait looks like it's going to be very tricky later today and there won't be many passing lanes," Wild Oats XI navigator Adrienne Cahalan said.
"That means it's extremely important for us to stay in touch with the two other yachts," she added. "Now is not the time for anyone to take a flyer because there's still a long way to go."
The race record was set in 2005 when Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, finished in 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes, after crossing the line at Constitution Dock in Hobart. It was the first of four wins in a row for the Australian maxi.
Current projections have Alfa Romeo finishing about 6 a.m. Tuesday — two days and 17 hours after leaving Sydney, nearly 24 hours slower than the record.
One yacht which experienced overnight problems was Investec Loyal, carrying Olympic swimming 1,500-meter gold medalist Grant Hackett, world boxing champion Danny Green and former Australian rugby players Phil Waugh and Phil Kearns.
"(We) had a lot of damage last night and yesterday." Investec Loyal navigator David Dickson said.
"However we're back in the game and pushing to catch where we can," added Dickson, whose yacht had dropped 40 nautical miles (46 miles, 74 kilometers) behind the leaders. - AP
