Ford yacht leads west coast fleet to the line

THE Laurie Ford-skippered boat Spirit of Downunder was last night charging towards a line-honours win in the Melbourne to Hobart yacht race.

The Cameron De Lange 12m yacht rounded South East Cape — the southernmost tip of Tasmania — early on Friday evening and is expected to maintain a healthy lead as the fleet makes its way up the Derwent River.

“Spirit has gone great guns this year,” Ocean Racing Club of Victoria commodore Neville Rose said.

“Laurie and his son Tim have done over 10 (Melbourne-Hobarts) and their experience should hold them in pretty good stead for the rest of the race.

“The fleet has had a few light spots here and there, but the conditions have been fantastic for the most part.

“It has been a really pleasant trip for them.”

The 20-boat Hobart fleet — along with the Melbourne to Devonport fleet — crossed the start line off Portsea without incident on Wednesday. The fleet then headed for Queenscliff before turning south to head out into Bass Strait.

The Hobart fleet is tackling the 440-nautical-mile “Westcoaster” course.

Two boats — One For The Road and Red Jacket — have withdrawn from the race. Catamaran Peccadillo, skippered by Charles Meredith, claimed multihull line honours in the Devonport race on Thursday afternoon, while Dream, a Pacific 50 skippered by Robert Green, claimed monohull line honours.

Summer Wind — whose crew is a product of the ORCV’s Beyond the Bay mentoring program — won handicap honours for the Devonport race, also known as the Rudder Cup, for the second year running.

Pre-race favourite Primitive Cool romped to a convincing line honours victory in the Cock of the Bay yacht race on Boxing Day.