VinaCapital Hong Kong-Vietnam Race 2011 - record pace for AUDI ultra

12:06 AM Fri 21 Oct 2011 GMT

'VinaCapital Vietnam Race 2011 - Hi Fi' Guy Nowell/RHKYC Click Here to view large photo

With the NE Monsoon re-established over the Northern South China Sea, the lead boats in the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's 2011 VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam race are setting a cracking pace.

At 1030hrs local time on Thursday 20th - just shy of 16 hours into the race - the supermaxi Audi ultra had covered half the course distance, and is currently set to smash Grant Wharington's 2004 race record of 42:45:41. To do this she must finish before 08:40:41hrs Hong Kong time on Friday. Current predictions put her finishing sometime between 0500hrs and 0600hrs on Friday if she keeps up her current pace, but closing the coast and getting in to the finish can be notoriously tricky, so this one may go down to the wire.

On handicap Audi ultra is currently second based on her recent VMG with Neil Pryde's Hi Fi leading ahead of Zanzibar. Neil Pryde celebrated his birthday at sea last night onboard Hi Fi, so belated happy returns to Neil. Sam Chan's Freefire has just traded her clear handicap lead for a move to the east, being the first boat to gybe onto starboard to close the coast of Vietnam. Bold or inspired? Only time will tell.

Among the 40-footers, Zanzibar is leading the pack. Significantly lighter than the two Mills boats (Ambush and EFG Bank Mandrake), Zanzibar will no doubt be enjoying the downwind slide. EFG Bank Mandrake and Ambush seem locked together on the race track, and this contest will also be one to follow closely.

Sell Side Dream, El Oro and Cutting Edge are also making great progress. With all boats in the fleet currently on or close to the rum line, and the breeze is looking like it will hold for the next 24 hours at least. Everyone is looking to finish in good time.

See the leader board here live.adventuretracking.com/Leaderboard/HKVN2011 or follow the race tracking (Flash 10 required) here live.adventuretracking.com/HKVN2011

by RHKYC Media

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing #Starboard

VinaCapital Hong Kong-Vietnam Race 2011 - record pace for AUDI ultra

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds