by Di Pearson
A massive fleet of 335 boats of all types from Frassld, the Farrier 31 owned by Shaun Fishley, to line honours chaser Michael Hiatt’s Farr 55 Living Doll from Melbourne, last year’s Division 3 winner, Surprise, David Ellis’ Borresen BB10 and a number of beautiful cruising yachts will start in this morning’s 34.3 nautical mile Audi Victoria Week Passage Race from Williamstown to Geelong.
Such is the size of the fleet the yachts will start off two lines in what is expected to be a fresh south-westerly of 15-25 knots, which will make for a quick race.
The start cannon to send the fleet on their way will be fired at 9.30am by Sir Rod Eddington, Chairman Victorian Major Events, with the five minute gun to be fired by Audi Victoria Week patron, John Bertrand AM.
Visually, the mass start will be spectacular for spectators, the Bay alive with not just competitors, but many spectators; on the water and on land.
Grant Wharington’s Skandia holds the race record of 1 hour 40 minutes 7 seconds, which they set in 2006. The yacht will not be on the line this year, so Living Doll’s local crew will have the pressure of bringing home the bacon, but will have opposition from yachts such as Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest from Sydney and Alan Whiteley’s TP52, Cougar II from Melbourne.
The Passage Race is Race 1 of the Audi IRC Australian Championship for those yachts sailing in the Audi IRC Series.
Audi Victoria Week
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