Future Shock nears the end, expected to cross finish line at 0045hrs

Tuesday 3 Jan 2012, 10;30pm

By Damian Devine

The 57 foot "Future Shock", skippered by Craig Ellis has made radio contact a short while ago and reported its ETA with Marine Rescue Coffs Harbour as 0045hrs and is now less than 18 nautical miles from the finish. They are currently travelling at 6 knots in 10 knots of NNE breeze and are now 9 nautical miles in front of Bruce Absolon’s Volvo 60 'Spirit of the Maid', as they enter the final leg of this now long race. If their ETA is correct, 'Future Shock's; finish time will be recorded as 35hrs 45mins.

Taken on board Future Shock with 56 nautical miles to go – by Craig Ellis

There is a trophy awarded to the Navigator who gets the closest finish time to their final reported ETA with Marine Recue Coffs Harbour. It is held with high regard by the navigators' of the fleet.

Given the post midnight finish there will be a small welcoming party of volunteers, race committee and media for 'Future Shock as they cross the finish line and make their way into the inner harbour. The yacht club, volunteers and finish line are now preparing themselves for the finish. The Coffs Harbour bell line honours trophy will be presented to the winning boat by CHYC Commodore Garry Ennis.

A further 4 boats have retired this afternoon with Dennis Cooper’s Sydney 36 ‘Amante’ and the Victorian Sydney 38 ‘Audacious’ heading back to Sydney and Port Stephens respectively, whilst the Hick 35 ‘Brand X’  forced to retire due to sea sickness opted for a stopover in Forster. Late this afternoon, Chris Way’s Farr 40 ‘Easy Tiger’ also retired after rudder damage and were escorted into Port Macquarie by Marine Rescue. All crew on board are safe and no injuries have been reported.

Richard Hudson, skipper of the Farr 45 'Pretty Woman' reported at 6:30 this evening that they were sailing in 16 knots of NNE breeze in relatively flat sea just south of Crescent Head doing 5-6 knots. He said, "the boats going well, and we’re working our way up the coast. We’ve still got a lot of work to do if we’re going to catch Merlin and the two DK46s, but that’s our challenge. There’s a lot of current out here to contend so we're hugging the coastline. We’re expecting to get in some time early morning."