Maria Island Race leader retires

11:22 AM Sat 22 Nov 2008 GMT

'Latest sked map from the Maria Island Race (1635)' RYCT &copy

With fleet leader Tasmanian Marina Constructions retiring this afternoon, the Sydney 38 Creese Property is tonight leading the fleet back to Hobart in the 190 nautical mile Tasports 61st Maria Island Yacht Race.

Creese Property, skippered by David Creece, at the 1635 hours (4.35pm) sked this afternoon reported her position just south of Cape Raoul, leaving her 30 nautical miles to sail to the finish off Hobart's Castray Esplanade, from
where the 20 boat fleet set sail on Friday evening.

Creese Property, the former champion Sydney yacht Transfusion is expected to finish before midnight tonight to take line honours and also be in a strong position to win the IRC handicap division.

At the 1635 'sked' she held a comfortable lead from Valheru, Tony Lyall's Elliott 13 and She's the Culprit, Todd Leary's Jones 36, as they sailed to the south of Cape Raoul. The only other yachts around Tasman Island at that stage were Host Plus Executive (Jeff Cordell) and Asylum, another Sydney 38 skippered by Dianne Barkas.

The race leader until early this afternoon had been the sports boat Tasmanian Marina Constructions, a Thompson 920 skippered by Robert Gourlay.

However, because of the fresh to strong southerly winds on the beat to windward back to Tasman Island, Gourlay has elected to retire to Hobart through the Dunalley Canal. Also retired are Masquerade, Liberte Express and Twice Five.

The remainder of the fleet is spread northwards from Tasman Island to Marion Bay with Sarina the last boat in the fleet.