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Thursday 1st January
By Damian Devine
A spectacular fleet of 61 yachts will start in the first ocean race of the year staring tomorrow, the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Offshore race at 12pm, off Broken Bay.
Favourable downhill weather conditions are forecast for the start of the race, with the weather bureau predicting 20 knot South/South East winds, ideal conditions for the race to Coffs Harbour. The strong SE conditions look set to follow the fleet up the coast to Coffs Harbour, placing the race record under threat. It will be a quick race regardless.
The race record stands at 18hrs 29mins 30 secs set by Wild Oats IX back in 2003. Boats would need to average 13 knots to come within sight of the record and finish in Coffs Harbour by 6:29am on Saturday.
Line honours favourites will be Perpetual Mocean, a Marten 49 skippered by Bruce Hogan with three Farr design boats firming into the market also. They are Pretty Woman, a Farr 45, Ausmaid, a Farr 47 and previous Hobart winner and Spirit of Lexus, a Farr 42.
The conditions will also suit the smallest boat in the fleet, Raging Bull placing her in contention for the coveted handicap honours. At just 9.5m and a downhill sled, she will relish these conditions and their strategy is to "to sail as hard and as fast we can, we'll be in contention", offered owner/skipper Mark Griffiths.
Raging Bull will relish the downhill conditions predicted for the 2009 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race and put her in handicap contention.
The majority of the fleet is expected to arrive in Coffs Harbour sometime on Saturday 3rd January. The event, hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, is in it's 28th year and had to run an altered course last year due to dangerous weather conditions, the first time in the race's history.
All the action can be followed on the event website at http://www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/.
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