Canting keelers for 2009 Gosford - Lord Howe Island Race

12:20 AM Thu 9 Apr 2009 GMT

'Canting keel design QUANTUM RACING blasts south - Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008' &copy Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Yachts with canting keels will be accepted as entries in this year's 36th annual Gosford - Lord Howe Island Yacht Race, the popular 414 nautical mile race across the northern Tasman Sea.

Gosford Sailing Club's race director Mark Greenwood has announced the change of policy, with the club already having received more than sixteen expressions of interest from yacht owners keen to compete in the late October event.

These include last year's IRC winner, Ian Kiernan with his classic yawl Maris, and Andrew Short with his line honours winning maxi Shockwave 5.

The Gosford - Lord Howe Race is the only annual Category 1 ocean race in Australian waters other than the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and is a qualifying race for the Hobart Race.

It has often been described as 'the most exclusive ocean race in Australia' because of the limit of 20 yachts that can moor at the World Heritage-listed island with its unique coral lagoon.

Greenwood expects several yachts with canting keels to compete in the 2009 race, which starts from Broken Bay on Saturday, 31 October.

"Yachts with canting keels will be eligible for line honours and also to compete for IRC and PHS handicap honours," Greenwood said today.

"Given good sailing conditions, one of these super maxis could well break the race record.

"Currently, there will be 15 moorings for yachts with a draft of 2.2 metres or less and five moorings for those with a draft of more than 2.2 metres. However, negotiations are under way with authorities for an additional two deep draft moorings," he added.

Other expressions of interest have been received from the owners of Local Hero, Kioni, Polaris of Belmont, Inner Circle, More Witchcraft, Jayhawk, Copernicus, Pacha, Amante, Great Xpectations, Charlie's Dream and the Queensland yacht Euphoria II.

Race information:

Email: lhi@gosfordsailingclub.com.auor

Web site: gosfordsailingclub.com.au

by Peter Campbell

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Canting keelers for 2009 Gosford - Lord Howe Island Race

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