Wind Backs off at Hamilton Island

By Ian Grant. At Hamilton Island Monday August 21 2006.

Australia’s smartest yacht racing tacticians will face a supreme test of light wind sailing strategy in the 2006 International Hahn Premium Race Week on the warm Whitsunday Island waters tomorrow.

The ideal 15-18 knot South East trade winds which propelled Grant Wharington’s super maxi to record breaking line honours results in the opening Island passage races has fallen away to a soft unstable easterly wind.

A controlling high pressure system will certainly present another warm and almost windless day perfect for tourists and whale watching tours but not so perfect for the 159 yachts competing for the Waterford Crystal trophies in Australia’ premier Race Week regatta.

Weather forecasters have confirmed that almost calm and sunny conditions will prevail over the Whitsunday Islands for the next few days.

Naturally the unstable forecast has not pleased the heavy wind experts however soft sea breeze which could be spiced with some big swings in direction will help to decide the difference between the crew who is fast in the fresh and can sail equally as smart in the softer wind range.

The new racing environment should not prove to be a problem in the helming station of the Big Boat class title leader the Steven David skippered 2003 Admirals Cup champion Wild Oats now racing under the Wild Joe battle flag.

Skipper David has an excellent tactical back up with Chris Links and the former World Etchells champion Cameron Miles who are proven masters in making the right choices when an unstable wind blows over the deck.

They are expected to master the expected challenge from the Bob Oatley skippered and mark Richards helmed Wild Oats X when both crews match race for the important points in the two testing 12 n/ml windward leeward races.

A similar exciting tactical duel will unfold when the Victorian Cookson 50 Living Doll skippered by Michael Hiatt defends the IRC class championship lead against the South Australian sloop Hardy’s Secret Mens Business intelligently skippered by Geoff Boettcher).