CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE STARTS NEXT STAGE FROM HOBART
Equivalent of third Sydney-Hobart race in as many weeks as 12-strong round-the-world ocean racing fleet returns to ‘battle’ the Bass Strait.
Race 7 got underway at 1700 local time this afternoon (0600 UTC) off Constitution Dock, Hobart for the 1075 nautical mile stage to Brisbane, Queensland, to complete the Australian leg.
Old Pulteney was first over the start line two lengths ahead of OneDLL with PSP Logistics overlapping in third closely followed by Derry~Londonderry~Doire and GREAT Britain.
This is the third time the fleet has tackled the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait in as many weeks, having just completed the 69th Rolex Sydney to Hobart.
“Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea are not to be taken lightly and neither should the skippers and crew be complacent but they should take it in their stride when they return. The start of the race will see strong south westerly breeze before it eases and goes more westerly which is ideal for a fast race,” explained Race Director Justin Taylor.
“The race will retrace its steps somewhat from Race 5 from Albany when the final stages into Sydney covered a similar route, but this time they will be pushing on up to Brisbane and I would expect them to move further offshore.
“There are some quite active weather systems at the moment both with three Southern Ocean depressions queuing up to pass south of Tasmania in as many days with their fronts passing over Bass Strait. The fronts will have strong squalls and in these the yachts may well see 50 knots or more.”
