Aera on track for handicap win

Andy Rice reports on the Rolex Sydney Hobart

The wind is conspiring to help Aera secure handicap victory in the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. When the British 55-footer charged up the Derwent River yesterday afternoon she enjoyed 20-knot thermal winds to propel her past the finish line just off Hobart's waterfront. Only a handful of other boats made it to Hobart before dusk, when the wind switched off until daybreak.

By the hour, Aera's grip on The Tattersalls Cup becomes stronger as potential challengers fall victim to the lighter breezes that have now taken hold of the Tasmanian coastline. Swan 48 Loki was a potential challenger on overall handicap, but owner Stephen Ainsworth saw that chance slip away earlier today. "We knew we had to finish at 8.30 this morning to stand a chance of a top three placing but when the breeze disappeared all hope of that faded. But that's yacht racing. In the Rolex Sydney Hobart there are a number of races within the race. There are all sorts of obstacles in the way. Unless you get through them all at the right time, you're not going to win it."

However, Loki still holds top spot in Division B and she will be hoping that the wind will now conspire in her favour to retain that title. Whatever the outcome for the Swan 48, there is no doubt Loki's crew had one of the more comfortable rides across the Bass Strait. Her crew took it in turns to take a shower on board the boat while enjoying the final spinnaker run up the Derwent. Compared with some of the other crews to have stepped ashore at Hobart over the past two days, Loki's have been one of the more sweet-smelling.

While two days ago, the difficulties in reaching Hobart were caused by an excess of wind it is the predominant lack of wind that has meant that by this afternoon only 13 boats had finished. There are some 48 others that need to overcome the fickle breezes before they can reach Hobart. Bringing up the rear and more than 350 miles away in the northern Bass Strait is the 31-footer Gillawa, now the smallest boat still racing.

Skiff sailor Tony Hannan was greatly relieved to have finished aboard the Lyons 46 Austmark this afternoon, and to sail into a sunny, almost-warm Hobart. When asked if he was glad to have done the race, Hannan replied diplomatically: "Well I'm glad I'm here. We had a young bloke on board, only 21, he did it for the first time and I guarantee he'll go again next year. For me, I do one about every 14 years, thanks very much."

"We had the storm gear up in the southerly just after we radioed in... We battled across the Strait. Two days later we eventually went sailing again, as opposed to just getting hammered with waves and a lot of cold wind and water. But you soon forget those moments and you enjoy the spinnaker run down the Tasmanian coast, the sun comes out, and it's not so bad. You forget the worst and remember the best."

Top 5 Line Honours standings

1. Nicorette finished at 05:10:44 hours, 29/1/04
2. AAPT - finished at 11:40:42 hours, 29/1/04
3. Brindabella - finished at 13:56:50 hours, 29/1/04
4. Aera - finished at 15:43:43, 29/1/04
5. Seriously Ten - finished at 16:16:38 hours, 29/1/04