Sportsboata ride on the Wild Side
'Vivace and Stealthy just after rounding the mark. Race 2 on Day 2'
Sail-World.com/ AUS © Click Here to view large photo
The thrill seeking Sports Boat class sailors are happy with the expected forecast for the opening race of the 2008 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week later today.
Race officials are expecting fast sailing conditions with variable 15 to 20 Knot trade winds to blow over the northern waters of the Whitsunday Passage providing the highly competitive fleet with perfect racing conditions over the Double Cone-Armit Island course.
Competition for the prestigious line honours trophy will hinge entirely on the crew who are prepared to hoist the largest spinnaker then hang on and hope the skipper backs their sail handling skill by avoiding time consuming wipe-out broaches.
All of the leading line honours contenders including the former French Kiss Americas Cup sailor Pierre Gal (Conquistador) and Royal Papua Yacht Club Admirals Cup skipper Bruce Tardrew (No Limits) have experienced some time out in previous regattas and they will naturally be cautious when they negotiate the roller coaster type seaway off Double Cone Island.
This point of the course known as the 'Graveyard' will again have some unexpected 'Pot-Holes' which will have the potential to sort the best from the rest.
Conquistador, No Limits, and previous regatta line honours champion Vivace skippered by former Australian Junior Offshore Group champion Noel Leigh-Smith will be kept honest by the equally well sailed New South Wales speedster Stealthy skippered by Bob Cowan.
All four 'sprint machines' have the crew experience and boat speed to claim the major points in the first race but the result will be decided by the crew who spends the least time recovering from racing along the fine line between distinction and disaster and survive the gybe off Double Cone Island without pitching into a nose-dive.
by Ian Grant 
Ormiston, QLD
