Nicorette forges on

Conditions abate as Ludde Ingvall's new maxi approaches Tasman Island

Positions at 09:50GMT

Pos	Boat	Lat	Long	DTF	Spd	Crs
1	Nicorette	42° 40' S	148° 00' E	75.7	9.2	165
2	AAPT	41° 57' S	148° 25' E	120.8	9.2	155
3	Brindabella	41° 51' S	148° 21' E	125.9	1.1	120
4	Nokia	41° 09' S	148° 19' E	166.5	8.6	130
5	Aera	41° 46' S	150° 03' E	167.8	8.1	170
6	Seriously TEN	41° 06' S	148° 27' E	170.7
7	Maserati	41° 00' S	148° 36' E	177.3
8	Ichi Ban	41° 21' S	149° 49' E	180.3	7.6	265
9	DHL - Getaway Sailing	40° 51' S	149° 11' E	193.2	9.2	225
10	Yendys*	40° 53' S	149° 27' E	195.6
11	Hardys Secret Mens	40° 32' S	148° 40' E	206.3	7.6	220
12	Dekadence	40° 17' S	148° 39' E	220.2
13	Loki	40° 19' S	150° 10' E	241.2	4.9	230
14	Austmark	40° 21' S	150° 19' E	243.0	6.5	235
15	Prowler	40° 03' S	149° 49' E	248.4	5.9	235
16	Chutzpah	40° 09' S	150° 16' E	251.8	4.3	135
17	Eureka II	39° 59' S	149° 54' E	254.2	7.6	105
18	Pale Ale Rager	39° 47' S	149° 10' E	254.7	8.6	210
19	Interum	39° 42' S	149° 21' E	261.2	7.0	215
20	Nips-N-Tux	40° 02' S	150° 31' E	263.4	5.4	225
21	Another Challenge	39° 39' S	149° 17' E	263.4	3.8	170
22	Team Lexus	40° 09' S	151° 09' E	274.1	5.4	155
23	Strewth	39° 25' S	149° 18' E	277.0	5.4	235
24	Extasea	39° 24' S	149° 22' E	278.8	8.1	135
25	First National	40° 05' S	151° 13' E	279.0	5.9	155
26	Love & War	39° 40' S	150° 26' E	281.6	7.0	160
27	Elektra	39° 40' S	150° 28' E	281.8	4.3	160
28	Bacardi	39° 26' S	149° 48' E	282.7	5.9	160
29	Courtesan	39° 20' S	149° 23' E	282.8	7.0	165
30	the active factor	39° 42' S	150° 42' E	284.8	8.1	170

The last survivor of the supermaxis in the 60th anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Ludde Ingvall’s 90-footer Nicorette, is expected to lead the decimated fleet into Hobart early tomorrow morning (mid-evening tonight, GMT).

At 2.00pm [0300GMT] today, Nicorette was off Wineglass Bay on the east coast of Tasmania, making just under 10 knots to windward. She was more than 50 nautical miles ahead of the next boat in the fleet, Sean Langman’s 66ft AAPT, with George Snow’s maxi Brindabella third in the fleet.

If Nicorette can maintain this speed over the final 116 nautical miles of the rugged race, she should finish about 2am [1500GMT], but local yachtsmen say that, realistically, it will be nearer 4am [1700GMT] as winds on the Derwent River historically fade from midnight onwards.

A total of 51 boats have now officially retired from the 116 boat fleet that set sail from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, leaving 65 still racing. Of these, several are still sheltering in Twofold Bay as gale force southerly winds sweep up the Tasmanian east coast and the eastern Bass Strait.

Among the most recent retirements has been veteran Rolex Sydney Hobart skipper Syd Fischer, who was sailing his 35th race to Hobart. He reported to the Race Committee at 10.55am that his Farr 50 Ragamuffin had been dismasted due east of Flinders Island. All crew are reported to be OK.

With the original leaders retired, a recovery plan is now underway for Skandia, which was forced to pull out of the race at 1500GMT yesterday with major problems with her canting keel mechanism. A tug has been contracted to take the boat in tow back to a safe port yet to be announced.

Shortly before 9am the crew of 16 left the 98 footer in two liferafts and transferred to the Water Police launch Van Diemen which has since taken them to Lady Barron on Flinders.