Simply Fun takes line honours in Melbourne to Launceston race

THE Phil Coombs-skippered Simply Fun has taken line honours in the Melbourne to Launceston yacht race.

The 42-footer led the race across Bass Strait and broke away from Shamrock as they neared the Tasmanian coast.

In lighter- than- expected conditions, Simply Fun crossed the finish line at Low

It’s been wet and wild and uncomfortable coming through the gap but we are flying

Head at 3.14pm yesterday, taking just over 24 hours for the strait crossing.

Favoured yacht Gusto suffered steering problems dur- ing the night before correcting its navigation at first light to beat Shamrock into second place.

The Launceston race, to- gether with the Westcoaster and Eastcoaster races, comprise the Tassie Trio, sister sailing events to the glamorous Sydney to Hobart.

Boats still at sea last night were bunkering down ahead of the arrival of projected gale-force winds.

The Westcoaster yachts will bear the brunt of the weather, though the already strong winds allowed all nine entries to make strong pro- gress along the Tasmanian coast yesterday.

Captain Paul Buccholz of leading yacht Extasea reported a fast-moving fleet in the strong winds.

‘‘ It’s been wet and wild and uncomfortable coming through the gap but we are flying,’’ he said.

While the Bureau of Meteorology has modelled swells of up to 7m hitting the Tasmanian west coast in to- day’s early hours, organisers were hoping for lesser seas.

On the other side of Tasmania, XLR8 led the Eastcoaster participants last night as it rounded Flinders Island.

Much of the Eastcoaster fleet stopped for several hours off Wilsons Promontory yesterday morning in calm conditions but were making steady progress towards Flinders Island by nightfall.