| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 5:26:00 PM LOCAL TIME-(26-12-2003) The New Zealand super maxi Zana has taken a narrow lead over early race leader Skandia in a tacking duel in the Tasman Sea three hours after the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race from Sydney Harbour this afternoon.
The four biggest boats in the fleet took a long leg on starboard tack to seaward after clearing the Heads, anticipating fresher south-easterly winds and a more favourable south-running current.
However, the CYCA’s Yacht Tracker is showing the smaller yachts Ichi Ban, Yendys and Grundig leading the fleet, because they have sailed the direct rhumbline course south.
Skandia, skippered by Grant Wharington, had led Stewart Thwaites’ Zana out to sea, but at 4pm today, Skandia’s navigator Will Oxley told the Rolex Media Centre that the Victorian 98-footer had slipped 8 to 10 boat lengths astern of Zana.
“We had to make a sail change that cost us, and the breeze is a bit further right than we were expecting. It’s going to be a long tactical boat race,” Oxley said.
Oxley said the yachts were on port tacking, laying Point Perpendicular, at the entrance to Jervis Bay.
Earlier, Ludde Ingvall, skipper of Nicorette, said: “We all (the big boats) invested early in going offshore, looking for breeze but it hasn’t really worked out as we expected.”
Of the big boats well to seaward, Zana was leading from Skandia, Nicorette and Brindabella, while inshore the Yacht Tracker has the two 52-footers, Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban and Geoff Ross’ Yendys ahead of Sean Langman’s Grundig.
Close astern of them came the Volvo 60s, Andrew Short Marine and Seriously TEN, followed by last year’s Overall Winner Quest, Bob Steel’s Nelson/Marek 46.
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