L2H favourite extends the lead with record smashing form

5:26 AM Sun 28 Dec 2008 GMT

Race favorite Crotty Legal and Dental has extended its lead and is on track to smash the Clive Peeters' Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race record by more than 12 hours.

The 45-footer, previously untested off-shore, reveled in strengthening north-westerlies, proving it is up to the challenges of ocean racing.

Owners Garry Smith and Jeff White rounded Tasman Island about 3pm today and are tipped to finish about 9pm tonight.

The light-weight six tonne hull is driven by a mass of sail area from the aluminum mast measuring nearly 60ft, which saw the yacht fly down the coast at speeds averaging 10 knots under spinnaker.

Skippered by Smith, Crotty Legal and Dental left sports-boat Tas Marine Construction in its wake, extending its lead over the Thompson 920 from 1 mile at 6am to more than 7 miles by late afternoon.

Tas Marine Construction, skippered by Rob Gourlay, managed to hold a 1 mile lead over David Creese's Sydney 38 Creese Property which is placed third.

Port Cygnet Sailing Club's 40-footer Red Back helmed by David O'Neill dropped back a place, running equal fourth with Roy and Dianne Barkas' Sydney 38 Asylum.

Carrying the weight of Launceston's hopes to win the line honors Sphinx Trophy has seemingly taken its toll on sailing stalwart Nick Edmunds.

Edmund's Haphazard remains more than 10 miles off the pace in sixth position.

Sailing veteran Frank Chatterton's Kamehameha is the best of the 30 footers, with a massive 9 mile lead over fellow 30-footer Beach Inspector.

Chatterton, who is the oldest skipper in the fleet aged 71, says he has spent more money getting his yacht ready for the L2H than he spent on its initial purchase.

Handicap places have revealed that size doesn't count with the small boats leading the larger race leaders.

Signrite Twice Five leads on PHS from Masquerade and Redigo, which is placed last in the 32 strong fleet.

The grand-prix handicap division, IRC, has heated up with just eight minutes separating the top three contenders.

The women are doing it for themselves, with Sally Rattle's Archie leading Creese Property by seven minutes and Asylum skippered by Dianne Barkas is just one minute behind Creese.

Last year's line honors and IRC winner, Jeff Cordell's Mumm 36 Host Plus Executive is well off the pace in 8th place overall and a huge 2.5 hours behind on IRC from the leader.

With winds swinging to the south-west in Southern Tasmania competitors are tipped to have a blitzing ride to the finishing line at Castray Esplanade.

by Danielle McKay

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L2H favourite extends the lead with record smashing form

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