Syd to Moololaba - Sked One and First Official Release

by Lisa Ratcliffe on 15 Apr 2000 On track for a race record in Sunlover Holidays Sydney - Mooloolaba Yacht Race
Sydney maxi Brindabella (George Snow) and Melbourne maxi Wild Thing (Grant Wharington are racing neck and neck with the Open 60 A99 (Sean
Langman) as the front runners in the Sunlover Holidays Sydney - Mooloolaba Yacht Race power up the coast.

At tonight's 8.00pm position report, the race leaders were south of Sugar Loaf near Port Stephens and making excellent time.

Wild Thing crewman Graeme Taylor reported perfect conditions earlier this evening, with smooth seas and a 10-12 knot E/SE breeze. 'We are full of water and
we expect to be leading the fleet by tomorrow morning,' he said, referring to the yacht's ability to pump water into the ballast tanks to increase speed.

Two miles astern of the three race leaders is the 76-footer Marchioness (Marchioness syndicate), which has picked an inshore course.

The Open 60 RSLCOM, currently in 5th place, is also revelling in the reaching conditions said skipper John Biddlecombe tonight. 'We haven't seen single figures
on the speedo since the start.'

The big boats are currently averaging 10 knots, which is enough to put them inside the course record. But with the wind forecast to swing around to the north
tomorrow morning before another weak sou'west change, the fleet's progress will be slowed.

With the change due tomorrow afternoon, the smaller boats to watch are AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis/Bob Thomas), Quest One (Richard Hudson) and
Zurich (Nigel Holman).

An interesting battle is also taking place between the Sydney 36 Kingtide (Colin Boyle) and the Sydney One-Design Asylum, skippered by Hamilton Island CEO
Wayne Kirkpatrick.