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Thursday January 3rd 2008 9:45pm
A further 27 yachts have now completed the course since the 6pm sked was radioed in by the fleet still at sea. There are still 16 yachts still to complete the course tonight and with only two retirees Amante and Carats n Kilos, the whole fleet is accounted for.
Of the 16 yachts still at sea, their race will now either be over or over during the night with the two back runners Lyric, a Carter 33 and Sea Express, a Northshore340 sailing off the Northern Beaches towards Botany Bay, the final rounding mark before getting some downwind help on their final leg home. Their 6pm sked reported them still off Barrenjoey heading South, showing great commitment. Their will be one more sked for them at midnight before their final ETA Navigator's radio report to the finishing vessel off Bangally Head.
For the 6pm sked report click here
With more than half fleet now back at a packed Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club enjoying a tale or two, the all important handicap positions haven't altered greatly since the 6:30pm news report.
In the 36 strong IRC fleet who started the alternate race, the provisional results on handicap for this Division, it is now looking more certain that Steven David's Reichel Pugh 60 Wild Joe will have his hands on both trophies at Saturday evenings prize giving having taken line honours this morning at 8:11am. Bill Ebsary's Le BIllet still currently holds onto 2nd spot with his Beneteau
44.7, 1hr 46minutes behind
the 'Jo on corrected time, with a new yacht on the IRC podium in 3rd spot, the crafty and competitive Chris Lancaster and his Beneteau 40.7 First Priority. She crossed the line at 5:54pm this afternoon with a corrected time of 32hrs 3mins and 47 secs.
First Priority has competed in the Pittwater
to Coffs race 5 times with owner & skipper Chris Lancaster , an RPAYC member who has
competed in many offshore races. She has proven to be a competitive
yacht winning the passage race to Coffs (PHS Division) in 2004. First
Priority is crewed by regulars from the RPAYC.
Rounding out the top 5 in IRC, First Priority has now pushed Grant Halliday's The Business
back into 4th since the last report with another RPAYC competitor and multiple winner of the Coffs series and race, the Staples / King Dark & Stormy Witch, the
Murray 37 custom, currently in 5th after posting a finishing time at 6:01pm. Her corrected time was 32 hrs 14mins 43secs.
Provisional Divisional splits for the three IRC divisions are still being calculated and will be announced in the next report.
Across to the PHS Division, provisional results show a new leader board since the last report. Sea Quest, a 15.18m Radford owned by Graham Friend taking the spoils from earlier reported leader, the Sydney 38 Love Byte with those cosmic things from Coffs Harbour, B52 owned by Paul D'Olier now moving into 3rd place. Sea Hawk, is 4th and Next Moment completes the Top 5 provisionally at this stage. With more than 13 of the 23 starters still to cross the line tonight, this Division is still open for grabs.
Provisional Divisional splits for the two PHS divisions will be announced in the next report.
The overall Divisional winners will be announced tomorrow when the full fleet has completed the race.
Click here to go to for the latest provisional handicap results.
It pumping in the bar tonight at the RPAYC
tonight and Race Director, Chris Stone reporting that with only 16 boats (7 IRC, 9 PHS) left to finish the altered course from the annual Pittwater to Coffs Race, overall it's been "a great result so far and our decision to sail the altered course unequivocally the right decision for all competitors."
There are only two retirees from the 210nm race so far,in itself a good result, with Dennis Cooper's Sydney 36 CR
'Amante' "due to crew commitments in Coffs Harbour tomorrow.". She along with the other retiree, Carats n Kilos took a right hand turn into Sydney Harbour for a short delivery home this afternoon. Both are now safely back
at dock at the CYCA.
Report by Damian Devine
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