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Spinnaker start on Sydney Harbour; possible race record

Home 2003 Spinnaker start on Sydney Harbour; possible race record

A high pressure system that was to move across the race track tomorrow is digging in further south, giving the 68-boat fleet a chance to knock off some miles before conditions lighten.

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“A race record could be on the cards,” was the news skippers wanted to hear from the Bureau of Meteorology’s duty forecaster at this morning’s final weather briefing for the expected spinnaker start of the Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race at 1.00pm today.

The revised forecast has the high pressure system that was to move across the race track tomorrow digging in further south, giving the 68-boat fleet a chance to knock off some miles, and possibly the race record, before conditions ease on Monday.

The race record for the 384 nautical mile passage is 27 hours 35 minutes 03 seconds, set by George Snow’s Brindabella in 1999.

With the forecast of 15-20 knots W/SW for the start and a southerly surge expected tonight behind the cold front that has brought snow to western NSW, a number of boats racing this year are capable of breaking that record, but the stand-out favourites are Sean Langman’s 66-footer Grundig and Ludde Ingvall’s 80-footer Luna Park Sydney.

Following this morning’s weather briefing, Chris Dare from Victorian entry Stratcorp Ninety Seven was relieved that “The forecast is much improved from Thursday.  We just have to get as far north as possible before it goes light,” he said.

Amante skipper Dennis Cooper is delighted with the forecast. “Amante suits conditions that are heavy at first and then light and on the nose so we should do well, but it is still a big boat race.”

The smaller boats such as the Sydney 36 Amante will be collectively praying for a second cold front, due Tuesday, to arrive earlier and carry them to the handicap winner’s podium.

The start on Sydney Harbour at 1.00pm today should see the fleet hitting the line off Nielsen Park under spinnaker, a magnificent site for the spectators and eastern suburbs residents.