Spectacular Spinnaker Start

When dawn broke over Moreton Bay this morning all of the signs were in place to provide the 2010 Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race fleet with a spectacular spinnaker start to the 308 nautical mile blue water classic off Sandgate at 11 am today.

While the normal South West land breeze hardly raised a ripple over the start area on Bramble Bay all of the more important coastal wind speed recorders were locked into the forecast South East wind flow.
 

These conditions will provide the 451 sailors with a test of moderate to fresh wind sailing over the initial 42 nautical miles before they exit Moreton Bay via the Caloundra Fairway Buoy.

Then it will become a race against the clock for defending line honours champion Black Jack and the smaller ex Volvo Globe race sloop Nikon Spirit of The Maid as they set up a challenge against the 20 hour 24 minute 40 second race record set by Skandia Wild Thing in a similar forecast in 2004.

Both skippers Mark Bradford in Black Jack and Bruce Absolon (Nikon Spirit of the Maid) have the crew experience and seamanship to maintain the required 15.08 knot average speed but their record challenge rests with the wind velocity.

However they remain hopeful of crossing the finish line in Gladstone Harbour before 7-24-40 tomorrow morning to claim a new record while Ian Wright the principal skipper of the 8 time race winner Saltash ll remains as the favourite to win on corrected time.