High dramas and high winds at Hamilton Island
In a day of high dramas and high winds three sailors were injured and some of the best racing ever was experienced at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week today. 
'Audi Hamilton Island Race week 2008, Day 2 Start Line'
Andrea Francolini / Audi © Click Here to view large photo
While none of the cruising division sailors were seriously injured, all three were treated in the Hamilton Island Medical Centre before being transferred to a mainland hospital for further observation.
Back on the race track its even scores after four races at the 25th anniversary Audi Hamilton Island Race Week with the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats X shaking off its near sistership on the longest race of the week, the 59 nautical mile Club Marine Classic Hayman Island Race.
'The good start helped, and we pulled our socks up today,' said Richards dockside this afternoon once he'd shaken hands with Mark Bradford, skipper of Black Jack which finished just under four minutes astern.
'Upwind we thought they had the legs on us but we held our own comfortably. We made a gain on the reach also,' added Richards.
The fleet set a blistering pace today in the moderate to fresh sou'easter, Wild Oats X recording a top speed of 20 knots.
The bigger boats may also have a chance today on corrected time with the smaller boats finishing against the tide.
by Lisa Ratcliff 
sunrise beach, QLD
