Surfing conditions predicted for Bird Island

Current Blue Water Pointscore Series leader (BWPS), Loki, smashed Brindabella’s 15 year-old race record and took the trifecta in last year’s Bird Island Race, hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, and owner Stephen Ainsworth is hoping for enough breeze to at least get close to that time.

Loki, a Reichel/Pugh 63, finished in the time of 6 hours 38 minutes and 56 seconds last September, wiping 1 hour 3 min 4 sec off Brindabella’s record.

"I don’t think we’ll have as much breeze as the guys got last year," admitted Ainsworth, who was away at the time and left the boat in the hands of his capable sailing master, Gordon Maguire. "We should have a fast run to the Island at least. It’ll help us go faster if we can sail home sprung sheets rather than beat into it.

"It looks like the sou-easter will hang in all night -- it’s a pretty good forecast -- it’ll make for nice sailing," he said of the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) prediction of 10-15 knot south-easterly winds.

For those boats still on the course the following morning, the news is all good. The BOM says to expect variable 10 knot winds in the morning, shifting north-easterly at 15-20 by afternoon, guaranteeing a quick spinnaker ride home to the finish in Rushcutters Bay. 

Syd Fischer and his TP52 Ragamuffin will be keeping Loki honest, having finished second in both BWPS races, to be only two points behind Loki, with Sam Haynes’ Celestial, a Rogers 46 with attitude, a further three points in arrears. The top three also lead the PHS pointscore -- and by the same points margin, so there is a lot at stake. 

Due to start at 6.55pm on Sydney Harbour, the IRC fleet will be racing for the 56th Janzoon Trophy, while the name of the PHS category winner will be engraved on the 37th George Barton trophy.

Bird Island is approximately 1.4 kilometres off the NSW Central Coast, near Budgewoi. It can be seen from the Norah Head lighthouse, the latter telling competitors they are near the small Island that was once part of the Australian mainland, but was separated thousands of years ago by rising sea levels.

For full race results and list of entries log on to: www.cyca.com.au