Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 due to finish GLH

5:14 PM Sun 26 Oct 2008 GMT

'More Witchcraft - now first in PHS in Lord Howe Race 2008' Jeremy Hancock Click Here to view large photo

Sydney yachtsman Andrew Short is expected to steer his 80-foot maxi yacht Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 across the finish line of the Hempel 35th Gosford - Lord Howe Island Yacht Race soon after daybreak tomorrow morning.

Short's reported position at 1905 hours (7.05pm) this evening placed the Reichel/Pugh 80 just under 112 nautical miles from the finish of the 414 nm ocean race that started from Broken Bay yesterday.

The maxi yacht has averaged 10.5 knots since the start and during today has maintained excellent speed to sail 122 nm in the 12 hours between 'skeds' (radio position reports).

She is estimated to be between 60 and 70 nm ahead of the Volvo 60 Getaway-Sailing, skippered by Peter Goldsworthy and the race record-holder, although this boat did not report in this evening.

The fleet has continued to enjoy excellent sailing conditions throughout today, with the breeze still from the north and expected to freshen to 25-30 knots offshore tonight. This may get Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 to the finish line of Lord Howe Island's coral lagoon even earlier tomorrow morning.

Not only has she outpaced the opposition in the dash across the Tasman Sea but also she has pointed much higher to windward on this long port tack.

Based on positions reported 1905 hours, Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 is sailing within her high IRC rating and is hold the progressive first place in the IRC division.

She is comfortable clear of Warwick Sherman's Cookson 12 Occasional Coarse Language which has sailed exceptionally well today to move ahead of Tony Kirby's X42 Patrice Six. Sailing with Sherman is Yachting NSW President and two-times Sydney Hobart Race winner Roger Hickman.

In fourth place on IRC corrected times this evening is the vintage yawl Sanyo Maris, skippered by Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan, which is making a return to ocean racing to mark the 50th anniversary of her launching.

The three top-placed yachts in the IRC division are representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, with CYCA Commodore Matt Allen sailing on Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5.

In the PHS Division, the New Zealand designed and built Dibley 42 More Witchcraft, skippered by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Rear Commodore John Cameron, has moved up to first place on corrected time (and third in the fleet).

More Witchcraft, which at 1905 hours was 177 nm from the finish, leads the PHS Division from the Manly Yacht Club's Copernicus (Greg Zyner) and the Gosford Sailing Club entrant Polaris of Belmont (Chris Dawe).

The other Gosford entrant in the race, Bill Koppe's Pacha, is in sixth place overall in the IRC Division.

Full position report details: www.gosfordsailingclub.com.au

by Peter Campbell

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Andrew Short Marine-Shockwave 5 due to finish GLH

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