Trade winds buffets Race Week fleet
Gusty 20-27knot trade winds and steep confused seas presented the record 225 yacht fleet with a supreme test of fresh wind sailing in the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week in the Whitsunday Islands today.
'Living Doll loses a sheet - 2008 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week'
Crosbie Lorimer
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Torn sails, bent spinnaker poles and wild uncontrolled broaches had crews clutching at the life lines during a spectacular day of racing.
Naturally there were a high number of crews who would have preferred to have spent the day in the calmer environment of Hamilton Harbour however they elected to race.
As expected there were a number of dramatic incidents when the yachts charged out of Dent Passage.
Sea room and crew safety became a priority when skippers called on the sail trimmers to 'dump' the excess sail power in the fresher gusts.
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Unfortunately the race for the former World champion Maxi yacht Condor came to an abrupt halt when she grounded on the fringe reef surrounding Plum Pudding Island.
The big sloop rested motionless for several minutes before sailing off with little damage apart from some deep coral scratches on her keel.
Conditions were equally tough on the Grand Prix IRC class course where the wind lumped up the seaway to contribute to a rough and tough day for all crews including the defending line honours champions crewing Bob Oatley's pocket maxi Wild Oats X.
Skipper Mark Richards who steered Wild Oats X to a narrow 29 second line honours win in the Lindeman Island race on Saturday had his hands full matching the all round speed produced by their class rival Black Jack skippered by Mark Bradford.
Black Jack imported from America and launched in July was the star performer in the fresh winds taking line honours in both races while Victorian skipper Michael Hiatt and his Living Doll crew who were forced to retire when crewman John McLean fell overboard in race one yesterday power sailed to two convincing corrected handicap victories today.
by Ian 'Stripey'Grant 
Adelaide, SA
