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Forecast is for a slow big boat race to the Gold Coast

Home 2003 Forecast is for a slow big boat race to the Gold Coast

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In the first 24hrs, the fleet will be trying to put as much distance as possible between them and a high pressure system that will move across the race track bringing light and fluky winds.

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After a spectacular spinnaker start on Sydney Harbour on Saturday, the Sydney Gold Coast Race fleet will be trying to put as much distance as possible between them and a high pressure system that will move across the race track on Sunday bringing lighter conditions. 

For the small boats, it will be a frustrating struggle northwards in “light and fluky winds”, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s duty forecaster Sean Carsons, but for those still at sea on Tuesday, a south’westerly front should make for a quick final dash to the finish line off Southport’s Main Beach.

“In the light conditions, the big decision will be whether to go offshore where the breeze is or stay inshore out of the current,” said Chris Bowling, skipper of the 30-footer Redrock Communications, following tonight’s Race Briefing.

Some skippers are calling it a ‘big boat race’ with Grundig skipper Sean Langman pleased with his decision to take only six experienced crew, given the light forecast, and Michael Cranitch, co-owner of Broomstick with Ray Wallace, describing it as a “slow race with a fast start.”

“We will be trying to put as many miles on the others in the first night,” Sean Langman said tonight.

Two weeks ago Ludde Ingvall took more than 1,000kg off his 80-footer called Luna Park Sydney for his first Gold Coast Race and the first to Queensland waters for his former Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours winner.

“Ludde has started his optimising program for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and while he is quietly confident about this race, Hobart is his main goal,” said navigator Craig Malouf tonight.

A sparkling winter’s day and cold west sou’west breezes of 15-20 knots are forecast for the start of the 18th annual Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race at 1.00pm off Nielsen Park this Saturday.

A high quality fleet of 68 yachts will contest the 384 nautical mile passage including 14 Sydney 38s and a strong interstate contingent of three Queensland entries, four Victorian entries and one South Australian entry.

The newest boat in the fleet is the Swan 45 One Design called Joe (John David), built this year in Finland and launched this week, while the oldest is the Rum Consortium’s 1979-built Davidson 42 Hogsbreath, which has only missed two races since the inaugural Sydney Gold Coast Race in 1986.

Amongst the crews are a number of high profile Australian sailors including Katie Spithill, the current Australian Women’s Match Racing Champion, who will be getting some steering miles under her belt on Cameron Miles’ Rush, and round-the-world sailors Tom Braidwood, Darren Senogles and Genevieve White.

There will be a final weather briefing delivered by the Bureau of Meteorology at 8.30am on Saturday morning at the CYCA.