Bumpy night ahead after spectacular start in 31st Coffs race

Monday 2 January 2012 8pm

By Damian Devine

At the first sked reported at 1800hrs this evening, the fleet has spread over a 20 nautical mile area from Belmont to Norah Head.

At the sked, the Volvo 60 Bruce Absolon’s 'Spirit of the Maid’ was in a neck and neck battle with Craig Ellis’  ‘Future Shock’ with both boats within a few hundred metres of another. Host clubs Richard Hudson’s ‘Pretty Woman’ was third closely trailed by the Kaiko 52 ‘Merlin’. The lead boats were travelling between 7-8 knots in a building 20 Nor’ Easter.

Pretty Woman off the start line - photo by Damian Devine

Nick Johnstone’s Lidguard 50 ‘Santana 3’ was the first retirement with a broken D shroud mid afternoon and is currently making their way back to the RPAYC. William Hutchinson’s ‘Freya’, a Hanse 411 retired at approximately 1900hrs.

Earlier today, the fleet were graced with a 15 knot Nor’ Easter to get them off the line for a spectacular start at 1pm for  the 31st Pittwater to Coffs race, making their way towards Cape Three Points at a blistering pace..

The fleet were evenly spread down the line with a slight pin end bias, seemingly offering the shortest route out of Barrenjoey. The best of the start was to be seen at the pin end with 'Santana 3' the first to jump, closely followed by 'About Time', 'Pretty Woman' and ‘Spirit of the Maid’. 'Future Shock’ came off the middle of the start  line in good clean air  to take the early ascendency, opting for a path close to the western shore before tacking out to get around Cape Three points.

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Future Shock - photo by Damian Devine

The bulk of the fleet are currently off Lake Macquarie with the lead boats off Newcastle Harbour, all sticking close to shore, with a lot of place changes happening. It's obviously a tricky part of the race right now as the first night settles in. 

The lead for IRC is constantly changing with the two DK46s ‘Exile’ and ‘Nine Dragons’ from the MHYC skippered by Rob Reynolds and Bob Cox respectively performing well as to is Phil Arnall’s smart looking Corby 43 ‘Anger Management’, the two Beneteau First 40s Tony Kinsman’s ‘Blunderbuss’, and Graeme Hall’s ‘Close Halled’ and the Hudson/Murphy/Lockley Farr45 ‘Pretty Woman’ all doing well up front. Mark Griffith’s Sydney 38 ‘Old School’ is within reach of the leading bunch and ready to pounce.

Nine Dragons after the start - photo by Damian Devine

In PHS, it's the Coffs Harbour boat Paul D’Olier’s Sydney 41 'B52' leading from  RPAYC’s Commodore Rob Curtis and SMB syndicate Murray 42 ‘Secret Men’s Business#1’ with  Rob Alder’s Cookson 12 ‘OCL One’' and ‘Kaliber’, the Beneteau 47.7 enjoying the stronger conditions, the front runners in the Division at this early stage.

But there’s still a long way to go and as the sun sets on the first night it’s going to be a long, bumpy night for the crews and boats in the 31^st Pittwater to Coffs race. On current predictions the first boat is not expected to cross the finish line until 6pm tomorrow night.

Merlin dips in the bow - photo by Damian Devine

Follow all the action on the tracker here at www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au

The start of the 2012 Pittwater to coffs race - photo by Damian Devine