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Photo: Andrea Francolini |
![]() |
Photo: Andrea Francolini |
![]() |
Photo: Andrea Francolini |
Dressed in sailing’s equivalent to battle gear - full wet weather gear, thermals and wearing PFD life vests - the crew left Berrys Bay this morning with stomachs churning and faces set. The record might be on their minds, but so is the safety risk of literally flying south at breakneck speed when the anticipated easterly breeze builds.
A south moving low pressure system off the northern New South Wales coast has created the sort of weather window the seven crew have been waiting for to make an attempt on the current passage record of 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds set by Wild Oats XI in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race.
Team Australia has to average 14.83 knots and finish off Battery Point in Hobart before 5.30am on Sunday morning, 24 February, to better Wild Oats XI’s time for the 630 nautical mile course. The breeze is expected to swing towards the east this afternoon and strengthen to 20-25 knots, just what Team Australia needs to wind back up to well above record pace.
To track Team Australia’s record attempt go to http://my.yb.tl/teamaustralia/
Lisa Ratcliff
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