| MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA-(22-1-2003) Sixty-four yachts lined up at the start of the 57 nautical mile ocean race on Day 3 of the Australian Offshore Keelboat Championships on Port Phillip Bay this morning.
After a general recall, the yachts got away 10.10am, Magnavox, a Volvo 60 steered by Peter Sorenson (MHYC), and Hollywood Boulevard, the Farr 52 skippered by Ray Roberts, getting off the line quickly in the 12-15 knot southerly that increased during the morning to 20-25 knots from sou-sou-east to sou-sou-west, on choppy seas.
Two yachts retired early from the race, Mossimo (RMYS), Mel Mollison’s 9.20 metre sloop, breaking a spinnaker pole, and Clubman (RYCV), Terry Oakley’s Super Clubman 30.
Late this afternoon, only six yachts had crossed the finish line; Magnavox at 4.39.57, Hollywood Boulevard at 4.55.09 and the well-sailed Elliot 14.10, Maverick II (RNZYS), skippered by New Zealander, Brian Peterson, followed by Cadibarra (SYC), the Don Jones 12.93 skippered by Nigel Jones and the Nelson Marek 46, Quest (CYCA), skippered by Bob Steel.
Stephen Ainsworth’s Swan 48, Loki (CYCA), was approximately 15 minutes behind Quest, which was helmed by Sean Kirkjian, and could put the pair in equal 1st place overall in the Customs House Hotel IRC Division going into the final two windward return races tomorrow at Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.
With Loki a known performer in the heavier conditions, the 2002 Hobart winner, Quest, will have to stay on her toes to win the series.
The rest of the fleet is expected to trickle in throughout the night.
Full race results will not be known until tomorrow, when a further update will occur.
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