Despite the conditions favouring the big and powerful LDV Comanche, Black Jack and Wild Oats XI managed to keep a decent stride with the leader throughout the race.

Wild Oats XI ultimately took over Comanche as the conditions lightened in toward Hobart, and stole the Line Honours victory.

Strong winds have made this a challenging race for the larger yachts in the fleet, including the TP52 fleet in which our Vice Commodore Barry Cuneo FNI is sailing his Envy Scooters Sailing Team ENVY Scooters Beachball 52 – who has been maintaining a great performance in the IRC Division this race.

Most of the fleet in fact managed to hold it together in the strong breezes across the Bass Strait – a notoriously difficult and exhausting task! We hope our sailors are catching their second wind, and are looking forward to that finish line, after what has undoubtedly been a long day.

We wish our sailors the best of luck in finishing the race and we look forward to hearing from them upon their safe arrival in Hobart.

Photo: Peter Harburg’s Black Jack leading LDV Comanche in the harbour / Carlo Borlenghi