Race report 1: ‘Southerly Buster’ creates exciting overnight racing
A ‘Southerly Buster’ hit the international fleet of Tall Ships racing in the Sydney Auckland Regatta last night.
After perfect weather for the race start off Sydney Heads yesterday afternoon the crews experienced large seas and gusts of over 40kts.
This southern hemisphere phenomenon is caused when a cold front approaches from the south or south-west, marking an extreme boundary between hot and cool air masses.
Dan Moreland, Captain of Picton Castle (Canada) reported, äóìThe seas are a pretty good size at five to seven metres, and winds have been increasingly strong after a sharp wind shift around midnight.
äóìThe Tasman Sea is living up to its reputation as a fickle patch of ocean. The dark blue seas have foaming white caps and clouds are scudding close overhead. Grab-lines are rigged and yards braced off the backstays as we sail under main-topgallant.
“After three warm and sunny days of training and drills in Sydney dock our new trainees are finding out a good deal more about going to sea – by being at sea. äó
Winds have moderated and Young Endeavour (Australia) has extended her lead on the water to 20 miles ahead of Tecla (Netherlands), and Spirit of New Zealand (New Zealand) is to the north but just four miles lying in third place.
On corrected times (handicap) the current placings are:
1st Tecla
2nd Young Endeavour
3rd Europa
Paul Bishop, Race Director, Sail Training International said, äóìThe racing has been very close. But with lighter winds forecast for tomorrow and a high pressure developing over the fleet, placings may well change.
äóìOur Tall Ship Captains and Navigators will have been busy plotting their strategies and it will be interesting to see if Spirit of New Zealand’ more northerly route will begin to pay off over the next 24 hours, or whether her rival Young Endeavour will benefit from her more southerly course.äó
Follow the fleet
All racing ships have individual satellite transponders so their ‘live positions’ can be followed here as the race unfolds.
Race results
Keep up to date with the latest race results here.
Meet the crews
Watch video interviews with the crews as they prepared to race here
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