It is the fastest Sydney to Hobart race that has ever been witnessed, although conditions have been rough for a German boat which has had to pull out.
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Around 1pm the Cruising Yacht Club Australia (CYCA) communication operators Bill Riley and Greg Halls received a radio call from the crew of German yacht Rockall, which lost its rudder and had torn its storm sail passing Green Cape.
“Our steering is very limited, we are motoring with only a little bit of steering and running low on fuel,” said a Rockall crew member over the radio.
The Police Rescue boat was sent from Eden to monitor the yacht before towing it into Lakes Entrance.
The Eden Marine Rescue tower has once again accommodated CYCA communications during the 73rd world famous yacht race.
“We really thank everyone [community members] for welcoming us into their homes and letting us stay, because it is the silly season it is hard to find accommodation around here,” CYCA member Greg Halls said.
There are three communication towers situated in Sydney, Eden and Hobart.
“We choose Eden because it is where boats are most likely to pull in, it’s a stop off point before they hit ‘the paddock’ [Bass Strait].
“If the conditions are dangerous and their common sense kicks in, they will pull out of the race here into Eden,” said Mr Hall.
Conditions have proven to be ideal for breaking records as almost every yacht (at the time of writing, 4pm Wednesday) has now passed Eden with confidence.
“Everyone is calling it a sleigh ride,
“Even the slowest boat is in an extraordinary position,” said Mr Riley.
The USA yacht Comanche recently purchased by Australian Jim Cooney is currently in the lead followed closely by Wild Oats XI.
At this stage it is still anyone's race with a history of sporadic weather changes, the final leg of the race is about to unfold.
