Hog's Breath

Whitsunday Islands race week gets underway today

A perfect winter sunrise in the tropical Whitsunday Islands this morning indicated the high performance fleet of offshore yachts and exciting sports boats would have ideal tactical sailing conditions for the opening race of the 2003 Hog’s Breath Race Week on Pioneer Bay today.

Light south west breezes wrinkled the surface of Pioneer Bay off Airlie Beach at day break to offer a very acceptable human comfort shirt and shorts hat and sunscreen type of yacht racing day in this picturesque yachting destination.

There will be no need for the sailors representing clubs from Hong Kong and all of the colder ports of Australia to search for their snug clothing or wet weather gear as the weather forecast of clear sunny skies with light winds from the southeast then swinging to a sea breeze this afternoon will offer a supreme light wind sailing test.

Naturally all of the skippers, sailing masters, helmsmen and tacticians have realized this is the type of racing conditions that could spoil reputations if they fail to sail in tune with the expected variations in wind direction and velocity.

The official race forecast compiled by weather authority Roger Badham and issued by North Sails has revealed a high pressure cell near Mackay will control a light pressure gradient across the Whitsunday Island region today.

Winds are not expected to exceed 12 knots and will swing right towards the sea during the day.

However while the conditions will not suit the power sailing sports boats to produce a thrill riding white water wake it will be perfect for the opening race of the 6 day international regatta.

Sydney skipper Matt Allen and his sailing master Roger Hickman are expected to capitalise on the light winds with the high performance Farr 52 Ich Ban to take first points in the Boss Hog line honours title over the trio of larger Volvo Globe race sloops Djuice (Andrew Short), Magnavox (Peter Sorensen) and Indec (David Gotze).

The forecast will almost certainly favour the ‘baby’ of the fleet the James Ingle helmed Blazer 23 Sensation to out sail her larger rivals and more expensive rivals to win on overall corrected handicap.

But the battle for points in the two windward leeward races for the Sydney 38 One Design class Pan Pacific championship is expected to be a very close nip-n-tuck struggle.

Dual Australian champion Lou Abrahams and his Another Challenge crew winner of class honours at the past two Hog’s Breath Race Week regattas is the favourite but they will be forced to apply a wind shadowing cover to retain their ranking over an improving group of challengers headed by Wayne Kirkpatrick’s Asylum crew from Hamilton Island