I do believe Mrs. O has the right of it, & I think their was another when the OZ/TAS set were cut off during a commercial break, needless to say as an old retired tradesman, swearing has no effect on me.
To my eyes I think Oats had the wrong sail combo, it looked like they started with a reef & J2, where BJ & Scally looked to be carrying a J3, the latter also having a reef but neither having trouble keeping the main set & happy.
to be fair, oats beat them both out of the harbour and only got overtaken once the reef was taken out and everyone had their big sails up. (if i recall correctly)
Yes looks that way. Having said that Comanche still taking the best route for her VPP chart. They'll have to stay tough and hope they pick up the most breeze East when it comes back in with a decent angle to Tassie. Oats already looking the goods. Doing the best numbers in these conditions.
They will split, although East looked good in another 7hrs I reckon Oats is going to go west, take an early advantage & meet them half way down Tas ............. ? Poossiblllly ? .....
oats normally would have done a lot better on the beat to the turning mark. the reefed main was backing the whole way. looked dreadful, sailed slow - for oats. she was overpowered. something was very wrong. she normally loves that stuff. but once she turned and shook out the reef and the main looked fine she wasn't particularly quick either. maybe it was under something other than the sails? ballast, foils? didn't look the oats of old. yet now down the coast she is doing fine...race might be decided in next hours and dependent on positioning rather than just boat speed - of the 100's oats has chosen the most easterly course, Comanche most westerly...that said, Comanche has far more to fear in the light stuff than Oats. Oats is so slippery - she hardly ever stops moving even in the lightest of winds - Comanche can just stop dead and give up all its lead in no time. Comanche needs to keep the wind. Oats is designed for the Hobart.
Oats overpowered up the harbour, bigger headsail than Scally and BJ wasn't helping. At turn mark hoisting 2 more headsails, shaking out the reef and raising forward rudder they had a bit on and are now 4 crew less than usual...probably why the others rolled over them. Settled down now running deeper than the others which they usually do plus now the 1200kg weight saving starts to have effect.
For me as wel but 7 hours ago during the start I was not able to get in as well.
Black Jack and Infotrack about in the same position
