YACHT: Brisbane to Gladstone leaders on course for race record

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2001
YACHT: Brisbane to Gladstone leaders on course for race record

BRISBANE, April 13 AAP - The race record is looking shaky in the 53rd Brisbane to Gladstone
yacht race thanks to stiff south-easterlies.

Race spokesman Ian Grant said a strong 20 to 25 knot south-easterly, downgraded from
a gale warning, helped the 77-strong fleet off to its fastest start ever from Bramble
Bay, north of Brisbane, today.

But one of the favourites, Desperado, broke a shroud before rounding the first mark
and her mast collapsed, tearing a gaping hole in the vessel which had to be towed back
to Scarborough marina.

Grant said that by 6pm (AEST), the leaders were off the Wide Bay bar near Fraser Island
and on track to arrive in Gladstone around 7am, two hours ahead of the 1993 race record
of 21hr:21min set by Bobsled for the 308 nautical mile journey.

Leading the multi-hull vessels was the New Caledonian catamaran Rogntudju (Rogntudju),
with Sydney yacht Grundig Xena at the front of the keel yacht fleet.

"If conditions hold they'll be in Gladstone by 7am, two hours ahead of the record,"

Grant told AAP.

An added incentive for this year's race is the Federation Cup, a $4,000 gilt cup donated
by the federal and state governments to celebrate the Centenary of Federation.

AAP rad/mm

KEYWORD: YACHTING GLADSTONE NIGHTLEAD

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