10:08 PM Sat 2 Jan 2010 GMT
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'Wild Oats XI - one of two super maxis contending for Line Honours and hoping for a race record - photo by Graham Price - 2010 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race'
Graham Price
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At 8:30am Wild Oats XI has just reported she is abeam of Nambucca with an ETA into Coffs Harbour of 10:10am. (17 nautical miles away..SW)
Based on the positions reported at the 0605 sked Mark Richards Wild Oats XI was at that time in front with 60 miles to go after a night of light winds.
They were currently ahead of Etihad Stadium by 16 miles with Black Jack a further 14 miles behind her. Having covered 92 nautical miles in the first 11 hours of the race, Wild Oats XI has picked up the pace since midnight and has covered some 74 nautical miles in 6 hours and is now in a fresh Southerly under spinnaker nearing Crescent Head on her way to Coffs Harbour.
Again as reported in the sked, Craig Ellis' Future Shock was next in line 48nm behind the leader with Bruce Absolon's Spirit of the Maid another mile behind her. The two Marten 49s follow with both Ocean Affinity annd the 2009 line honours winner Perpetual Mocean sitting on top of another with Pretty Woman right alongside with 115 miles to go.
On Handicap, it's IRC Div 2 boat Phillip Bennett's 11.5m Custom King Billy from the RSYS now in the lead with the Sydney 38 from host Club RPAYC, Geoff Payne's Risk in 2nd with the Cavalier 350, the smallest in the fleet, Infinity skippered by Olin Watson from the RMYC currently in 3rd.
By Division, IRC Division 1 it's an RPAYC trifecta at this stage with Risk in the lead of Richard Hudson's Pretty Woman with Bill Ebsary's 'Le Billet' in 3rd. In IRC Division 2, it's King Billy from Infinity with Nine Dragons in 3rd.
In PHS Division, the fleet sees the Beneteau first 36.7 First Light taken over overnight handicap leader Mick Martin's Sayer 11.9 Frantic with the Northshore 370 Mortgage Choice Rumba in 3rd.
by Damian Devine
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