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Two Yachts Break Through the East Australian Current to Join the Offshore Pack

Home 2025 Two Yachts Break Through the East Australian Current to Join the Offshore Pack

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After nearly 24 hours of racing, Bacchanal and Daguet 2 each made a calculated tactical shift off Seal Rocks, heading further eastward to jump across the southbound current and rejoin the offshore group, in their chase to reshape the leaderboard.

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Why Seal Rocks Matters

Seal Rocks is a key strategic point in this race, southbound EAC flow is typically more confined and narrow at this landmark. Strong southward currents can sap boats sailing an offshore course, but here, the more compact current opens an opportunity to slip through the current with reduced exposure (time) to negative push. 

As the EAC is a powerful, current that ranges from 0.5 to 2kts, it is fundamental to limit your exposure to the full strength of the current. This is especially so for non-planing, smaller or heavier yachts.

Navigator Insights

Before the race, Navigators Alex Nolan (Bacchanal) and Steve Taylor (Daguet 2) both stressed the importance of current in this race.

Taylor previously shared: “It’s a definite risk going offshore because you have to cross fast moving currents to get outside the currents. And then you have got to cross back through the current to get back into the Gold Coast. With the weather routing systems that we have now, we’re able to quantify basically how much extra time it’s going to cost us to get out wide, if there’s any sort of payoff to being out there.” 

It looks like Daguet 2, made their choice, offshore it is!

Nolan was clear about their approach: “It was always the plan to be offshore around this area.

“We just needed to pick the moment and this seemed like a good one, Daguet 2 clearly thought so as well. We had a good shift and pressure and went for it.”

Bacchanal Leaving Sydney Harbour.  Image: CYCA | Andrea Francolini

Tactical Outcome

By threading through the current at Seal Rocks, both yachts are rejoining the offshore group, gaining access to fresher breeze, while avoiding the brunt of force the current.

With the offshore fleet currently building their pace, this move could see Bacchanal and Daguet  2’s names jump back up the ranks on the leaderboard.

As the race unfolds, this shift highlights the power of local knowledge and timing, as ocean currents can be as decisive as wind speed and sail trim in determining a winner.