And They’re Off!

Start time: 1100 hours Friday 3rd August 2007

The Inaugural Brisbane to Great Keppel Island Tropical Yacht Race had a clear start at 1100 hours today 3 August 2007 with 14 yachts now heading into the 15 knot northerly as they travel up the Queensland coast.

Night Nurse skippered by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Rear Commodore Russell McCart and Wedgetail with former world champion Vanessa Dudley at the helm, had a competitive tussle at the start with Wedgetail forced to tack into clear air 3 minutes after starting.

Getaway-Sailing.com skippered by Peter Goldsworthy decided to give the fleet a head start after arriving 15 minutes late. They were finally approaching Mondo and Overdraft with 5 minute after starting with Wedgetail and Night Nurse in the far off distance.

When asked if there was anything wrong the crew of Getaway-Sailing.com simply replied “we were just late!” Traveling from the Rivergate Marina on the Brisbane River it was apparent and unfortunate that they misjudged the amount of time it would take to reach the start line which was 2 nautical miles east of the Lockyer Beacon off Green Island in Moreton Bay.

The warm northerly will have the fleet bashing into the forecast 20 knots this afternoon before the cool change and 30 knots from the south which is predicated to hit the tail end of the fleet from approximately 0100 hours tomorrow morning.

Wasabi was unable to make the start due to a broken rudder in last weekends Audi Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race with Leda and Trumpcard also withdrawing in the final hour.

As the fleet heads north they will encounter some of Queensland’s tropical wildlife including whales, dolphins and sea turtles.