South Pacific Boomerang Race begins out of Melbourne
The first offshore leg of the Queensland Government South Pacific Boomerang, Melbourne Vanuatu started today (Sun 2nd July 2006) at 12 midday off Portsea Pier. With an 1850 nm journey ahead where yachties can shed their clothes as they shed the latitudes.
Four bottlenose Dolphins in the pre start provided entertainment as they frolicked amongst the competitors and hundreds of spectators packed Portsea Pier, as the 21 competitors jostled for position on the start line.
The preparation is complicated for a race more than the length of three Sydney to Hobart’s but blood pressure rose on the deep drafted Sydney entry, Andrew Short Marine, when they ran aground, in shallow waters just outside of Portsea only an hour before the race. The Volvo 60 had to find a different route to the start arriving just 10 minutes before Andrew Fraser MP, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, the Minister of Heath and Minister of Sport fired a white flare at the start.
Royal Geelong Yacht Club entry Ocean Skins were fast off the start line ahead of Andrew Short Marine, then Helsal II, but Gusto, came through fast. The fleet beam reached across to Shortman’s Bluff to the turning mark. Andrew Short Marine, was six lengths ahead of Gusto the Open 60 with Helsal II a similar distance back. Tony Fowler’s Ocean Skins led the next group ahead of the elegant Swan 57 Lady Godiva, with ORCV Commodore Angus Fletcher’s Tevake II only two boat lengths back.
Runaway the smallest two handed entry co-skippered by James Ryssenbeek and Sea Hawk pilot Andrew McCole was sailing well above her waterline length close behind. Then a six boat gap to Elektra, closely followed by Just a Minor Hickup and Outlaw. A gap of half a mile had opened to the rest of the fleet which was closely bunched behind Robin Hewitt’s Yoko.
There were two laggards to the start, Sandringham Commodore Phil Coombs, on Dekadence and Jeff Otter’s Icefire, both with minor gear failures but both able to compete.
As they exited the heads, always a treacherous passage, Andrew Short Marine slammed into a confused seaway from the strong winds overnight and the outgoing tide. Gusto, the largest two hander and a well known down wind flyer, was close behind vying for second place with the popular pocket maxi Nautilus Marine Insurance, Helsal II. Hitting the Bass Strait washing machine Gusto suffered and went backwards through the fleet.
Tonight sees the fleet heading for Wilsons Promontory before they set course to Vanuatu. The first radio position Sked will be at 21.05 tonight and will be published on www.melbournevanuatu.com.
You can track the race’s progress here.