At last the floodgates are starting to open.

by News Editor on 30 Dec 2000 In the last 24 hours, Nicorette survived 55 knots in Storm Bay for a 3am finish just breaking the old Morning Glory record. Wild Thing was five hours behind, then 40 minutes later the first of the Volvo 60's illbruck, with Tyco only 45 minutes behind.

Then at 2.35pm, the walking wounded from the Volvo fleet started in, wit the arrival of News Corporation. Slowed by torn sails, he had also sustained rudder and keel damage from a nighttime collision with a marine object.

Assa Abloy arrived at 5pm. with a crew exhausted from hand pumping water ballast from side to side in the vessel. Necessary because of electrical generator problems leaving them without water pumps.

The Danish entry Nokia, was the last of the Volvo 60's, arriving at 9:47pm.

The current Line Honours race record holder, with disappointed skipper Stephan Myralf and a subdued crew after losing sails and wind gear in 60 knots in the previous twenty four hours.

Close behind at Nokia, at 10:45pm was Kevan Pearce's Farr 47 Ausmaid, with a jubilant crew, smelling victory.

Then the famous Derwent river weather gate slammed shut, as the breezes dropped away in the overnight hours.

Yendys holding onto the dying breeze finished at 12:25, but Quest at 1:56am and Ragamuffin at 2:55am suffered badly, as did the Swan 48 Loki, who had showed excellent speed through the race. She finished at 5:33 am.