San Fernando Race - Strewth misses record

7:27 AM Fri 10 Apr 2009 GMT

'Strewth leads the way out of Victoria Harbour. San Fernando Race 09' Guy Nowell &copy

Given the variation in age and size of boats in offshore racing, particularly in Asia where disciples are still very much in the minority, all competitors are equally important both from a safety point of view and also when it comes to calculation of the overall results.

Purplefinder tracking shows that fleet leader Strewth experienced a drop in speed around 0700hrs this morning, which has picked back up to the 8+ knot mark, but which looks to have put the Race record out of her grasp. At 12:30:00 (Hong Kong time) there were still 26nm to cover to cross the finish line at San Fernando, giving an ETA in the region of 16:30:00, well outside the target finish time of 14:15:12.

While the BIG question this morning was whether or not Strewth could maintain enough momentum on the Luzon coast to break the 8 year old race record, a look a little further back in the fleet exposes some serious challenges to the IRC Racing Division title.

Still 130nm out from the finish, Red Kite II is putting in a sterling maiden performance in the racing division, looking likely to finish around 12 hours behind the leader. With Strewth giving the Archambault 35 some 19 minutes an hour on IRC, watchers should be entertained well beyond the Line Honours gun.

The IRC Premier Cruising Division has its own battles going on, with Moonblue 2 leading on the water, but bow to bow with Xena on estimated corrected time, both boats fighting to extend a small advantage over Beneteau First 50 Blauwvoet. Looking at ETC's based on this morning's 0800hrs position report, Bavaria 39C, Dearg Doom, poses a threat to the big boats' supremacy in this division, with a current ETC which would have her beating Blauwvoet by 2 hours once the sums are done. ETC's are available at www.rhkyc.org.hk/sanfernandorace/positionreports.htm

With consistent weather conditions, the fleet should all be safely in San Fernando in time for prizegiving on Sunday evening.

by Lindsay Lyons

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San Fernando Race - Strewth misses record

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