Hog's Breath Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach Race - Finish

by Ian Grant on 9 Aug 2000 A race weary 9 year old spinnaker combined with daring tactics paved the
way for the Sydney Farr 50 2GB Titan Ford to score a record breaking win in
the 520 n/ml Hog's Breath Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach race last night.

The mast head spinnaker generally stowed in the sail locker as a cruising sail
was hoisted at a critical stage when 2GB Titan Ford, and her rival Sydney
sloops Leroy Brown (Warren Wieckmann) and Aspect Computing were locked
in an intensive 'Dog Fight' for line honours in the closing miles of the race.

Sailing master Andrew Miller made the decision to hoist 'the old bag' as the
three yachts were poised for a 'nip-n-tuck' struggle as they approached
Coppersmith Island with just over 40 miles to race.

"We just had to take the chance and go for it, the nine year old sail had seen
a lot of hard racing miles and looked a little tired, but surprisingly it held up
there to provide 'the grunt' which put us back in the yacht race". Miller Said.

2GB Titan Ford drew on level terms with race leader and favourite Leroy Brown
as the two yachts sailed past Dent Island and into the entrance of the
Whitsunday Passage.

"That 'Old Rag' proved to be the difference in speed between the two yachts,
we had nothing to match it's size, it was so big it cast a shadow as they
sailed past ". said Leroy Brown skipper Warren Wieckmann.

After a short duel 2GB Titan Ford jointly owned by radio and television
personality Stan Zemanek, former 18ft skiff World champion Peter Sorensen
and talented offshore navigator Julie Hodder edged clear in the final five miles
to win a place in Australian Offshore racing history and a new record for
Queensland's 'longest ocean race.

This proved to be a deserved reward for the 2GB Titan Ford crew who held a
close third for most of the race before the 'Circus Tent' size spinnaker was
hoisted to provide her with a 9 minute 22 second win after 52 hours 34
minutes and 28 seconds of exciting tactical offshore racing.

RESULTS:
Hog's Breath Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach Ocean Race.
Line Honours: 2GB Titan Ford (A Miller,NSW) 52hrs 34mins 28 sec
1, Leroy Brown (W Wieckmann,NSW) 52-43-50
2, Aspect Computing (D Pescud,NSW) 53-33-09
Then came. Lightspeed 56-43-30, Dreamtime 58-17-49, Ninety Seven
59-12-12, Sail Mooloolaba 60-58-15, Storm 61-11-27, Original Crew 62-43-01,
Dehler Magic 64-17-36, Dancing Lady 64-20-38, Bushido 11 64-25-24, Shala
V 67-36-01, Crossing 68-02-00, Intrigue of Stornaway 69-18-59.